“CONCESSIONS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 166, 4 October 1927, Page 8

“CONCESSIONS”

Sir, When the bus competition was current, we were told by the authorities that they had just been on the point of giving the public a rebate in fares when the “pirate” bus-owners made such a hole in their profits that they couldn’t do so. Then they got busy and with other like-minded worthies, they suppressed the competition of the buses. Now that they have squashed the opposition and secured a complete monopoly, instead of making any concession, they proceed to imitate the most monopolistic of trusts and raise the fares all round. Take the Buckland Road run. This was opened by private enterprise. The council buses followed, ran the private

buses off the road and very soon .raised the fares. This four-section concession ticket was firsi; 3s 3d; then 4s 3d, and by this last absolutely uncalled-for increase is 6s (with one extra ride thrown in for luck). It seems a pity the council could not import an adviser from the Wellington Tramways Department. There the highest fare fcs 3d for which one can travel six sections (by concession ticket). These same concession tickets can be purchased on the tram cr bus and the same ticket be used by two or more persons. In fact the capital city seems to cater for the convenience of the public in l:s transport, and in spite of this, showed a surplus on its last year’s balance sheet. COMMON SENSE.