TRAMWAY FARES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1919, Page 2

TRAMWAY FARES.

(To the Edrtor.) Sir, —Re the aboVe, I was greatly Interested in the report of the borough electrical engineer in your issue of Thursday. I fully agreo with him in referenco to the tram- • way fares being one of the few tariffs that had not been increasing owing to the cost of production, whilst the cost of production has increased more in proportion than in most other industries. It is all very well revealing the fact that if one-third of a penny more were paid by each passenger travelling one mile the present system would be meeting the total charges made against it, but, surely, there are other means of obtaining increased revenue from the system than by taxlhg those passengers that only travel one mile. Sly contention Is this: The trams are a public' convenience tlfat have come to stop, and I am sure the ratepayers will heartily support any proposal for their extension into the various suburbs, which means undoubtedly tile spreading of the population of the town. 1 suggest a way of deriving an increased revenue from the system, and that is by still keeping to the penny fare per mile up till say, 6 p.m., and double fares for tho first and second sections after that hour. 1 maintain that after that hour the trams are run mostly for the pleasure-seeking people, whom 1 feel suro would no mind tho extra charge on i their fares to enable them to attend whatever places of amusement they desired In comfort, , and by doing this wo would be getting at •he right ones, and would not be' Increasing tho fares on those that are struggling along trying to make ends meet owing to tile cost of living, .such as workmen, shop' assistants, and others, who use the cars dally to bring them to and fro from their businesses. This suggestion I should think would bo better than the introduction of the one man system. 1 Otherwise I would suggest charging the usual fare say up to 7 p.m., then increase the whole of the fares' correspondingly: the Id fare to' ' 2d, the 2d fare to 3d, and the 3d fare to 4d. ' By doing this we would not be unduly hard on j tho worker, and at the same time would- be increasing the revenue tc a considerable extent. I would point out that other persons > piy'ng for hire sucli as cabmen, etc., Ini crease their fares after 6 p.m.—l am, etc., 1 J. HOSKIN, s Oct. 23, 1919.