RAILWAY FARES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1792, 6 May 1891, Page 6

RAILWAY FARES.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves, as senior member or Cbristchurch, has been in communication with the Railway Commissioners with reference to the "fifty-trip tickets" issued by the Railway Department. It was represented to Mr Reeves, when in Cbrisfcchurch recently, that a reform aa regards these tickets was necessary in the direction of readering them available until the whole number had been used, instead of for a limited period as at present. The representations hare been laid before the Commissioners, who, however, "do not see their way "to make any alteration. They point out that the principle regulating the issue of these tickets is to induce travelling by giving a concession in the cost to a purchaser who uses the railway often within a given time. For instance, a second • class fifty - trip monthly ticket between Christchurch aud Lyttelton costs 16s, or a little under 4d for each journey, while the ordinary single fare is lid and return fare Is 7d. They also argue that to allow the fifty-trip tickets to be used until all have been exhausted would, in effect, be to lower all passenger rates on the line to the above-mentioned rate, which is-about $d per mile. Finally, the Commissioners say that in cases where monthly tickets do not suit, fifty-trip tickets, available for three months, may be obtained for 21s 6d. These three-monthly tickets may be uaed not only by a purchaser, but by any member of his family. Possibly this last arrangement may not be generally known, aud perhaps some of those who do not find the one month ticket suit may be disposed to pay the extra 5s 6d for a three months' ticket.—' Lyttelton Times.'