WANGANUI TRAMS

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 October 1947, Page 4

WANGANUI TRAMS

FARES WERE RAISED ON A DAY THAT RAINED

SOME OF THE REACTIONS

Generally speaking, the users of the Wanganui City tramways accepted philosophically the decision of the council to raise fares as from yesterday. There seemed to be general realisation that the financial position had to be met, and that positive action had been taken was encouraging, even if it meant more expense. The principle that the user ’.should pay a full share of increased costs was accepted for the most part reasonably. But while the rise in fares met with-more or less approval, the shortening of the sections puzzled a good I many people, and, in some cases, there I was open hostility to that phase of the council s remedy.

As amended timetable’s to bring into effect the curtailment of the service in addition to the raising of the fares have not yet been put into operation, public reactions were not evident. Time enough for reaction to that phase of action when the trams people are in th e habit of using cease to run.

“I’ll walk one block now and effect a saving that way,” declared one woman.

“The principle that the user should pay is sound,’’ commented a man.

“Perhaps it was fortunate that it wa s a rainy day that the increased fares came into operation,’’ said another. “When the fine weather comes it is my belief that Revenue will fall, not increase.”

On Tuesday night, when th c announcement w’as made that the fares were to be increased the following morning, at least on e family changed its picture plans —went to the theatre c.n Tuesday night instead of Wednesday and saved 2d a head. Human nature is like that.

Motormen collecting fares put up with a good deal of good-natured criticism. Season ticket holders had their tickets clipped and put the extra charge in coin into the receptacle s on the outward journey, or handed it to the collector on the inward journey and got a ticket in exchange. “Th e same old familiar faces patronised the trams,” said one motorman.

Another said that he had not heard one word of adverse criticism.

A third said that be had received a lecture from one woman on where the sections should end—at least her section.

“From enquiries made late yesterday afternoon there was no falling off in public patronage and very few' complaints,” said Mr. L. F. Row’, city engineer and tramway manager, last night. From all points of view the changeover went very satisfactory, he added.

Another view expressed by an official was that the patronage given the trams yesterday exceeded expectations. and there was a minimum of criticism. No figures were available last night.