TRAM FARES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23045, 23 November 1936, Page 10

TRAM FARES

INCREASE PROPOSED RESULT OF FORTY-HOUR WEEK PENNY SECTIONS CANCELLED It is understood that in order to meet the increased cost of running the city trams, consequent on the introduction of the 40-hour week, the City Council will at its meeting to-night be asked to consider the question of raising the fares. The Tramways Committee considered the matter at its last meeting and drew up certain recommendations, and they will come before the council for final ratification to-night. So far as can be gathered, the council has already taken steps to introduce new and increased tram fares—to the extent of having the necessary new concession tickets, etc., printed. The penny fare, of which Dunedin users of the trams have had the benefit since the inception of the electric-powered service, will soon be a thinpr of the past. Citizens can therefore apparently look forward with as much satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, as they are able in the circumstances to the new burden, and accept the position with the resignation which they are showing in the face of increased costs in practically every avenue of industry and commercial life. Another important matter which was to have come before the council to-night, but consideration of which has been postponed owing to the members of Parliament on the council being required to attend a caucus of the Government party in Wellington, relates to a motion by Cr M'Millan that the employees in the respective city trading departments should be empowered to elect one of their members to be associated with the committees when they meet to transact business concerning the running of the departments. The position at present is that the town clerk, or the acting-town clerk, and the head executive departmental officer attend committee meetings, and the idea is to have, in addition, a representative from the employees engaged in a particular trading department. At the last meeting of the City Council Cr Allen stated, when Cr M'Millan's motion came up for discussion and it was decided to adjourn consideration of it for a fortnight, that a caucus of the Labour members of the council had considered and approved th 3 pronosal before it had been placed before the council. That statement was not denied, and, that being so, and as the Labour members are in the majority, it would be seen that the passing of the motion will be a formal matter only.