CHEAPER FARES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21742, 6 September 1932, Page 11

CHEAPER FARES

TROTTING MEETINGS The board of the New Zealand Trotting Association has not accepted as final an unfavourable reply from the Railways Board in regard to cheaper excursions for trotting meetings. The board wrote recently to the Railways Department, and a reply was received as follows: "In view of the general reductions in fares recently made and the concessions already granted in connection with the sport of racing, it is regretted that owing to the financial position of the department no further assistance can be afforded at the present time. . . . The board has concluded that the effect of a general reduction in race fares would inevitably be attended by a corresponding decline in revenue, and in view of the operating losses which are being incurred at present it regrets being unable to grant a concession which would accentuate the difficulty of the department's present financial position." Mr H. W. Kitchingham said that the more passengers the railways carried to the meetings the more revenue it meant for the Government. If cheap trains could be run from the West Coast for football matches equally cheap excursions could be run for trotting meetings. It was finally decided to arrange for a deputation to meet the Railways Board at the first opportunity.