TRAM FARES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19141, 26 October 1927, Page 14

TRAM FARES.

UNITED BURGESSES* VIEWS.

RESTORATION OF PENNY SECTION.

The Council of the "United Burgesses' Association at its meeting last night decided that amongst other questions to be asked candidates for the Tramway Board should be: (1) Are you in favour of penny fares within the belts; and (2) are you in favour that the fare for any single section on any line be Id J"

The secretary (Mr H. W. Gourlay) referred to the questionnaire to be submitted to candidates for the Tramway Board and suggested their revision. Some of the questions were rather fatuous. Somo had not been submitted as motions, and he was doubtful if he had rightly interpreted some of the questions. Mr 11. B. Dalley said the first question was: "Are you in favour of the instituting of penny sections?" He suggested that it should be considered in conjunction with the Citizens' Association's paragraph 3: "A system of penny sections with an overlapping central city zone should be instituted and given a fair trial." One candidate had said that this was not mandatory and all it involved was that the matter should be considered. That candidate had a legal mind, and his interpretation was not apparent to the layman. The question should be put so' that there could be no misunderstanding. Tho answers should have no "ifs" or "huts" about them, so there could be no wriggling or squirming afterwards. -They should come to some understanding as to the length of the penny section, because they might have' penny sections that would be no concession. They had been told that tho average distance of the 2Jd section was two miles, and! it was suggested that the penny section should be ouo mile. There was no logical reason why the penny section in the heart of the City should differ from the penny section in the suburbs. The chairman: That means a decrease in fares all round. Mr Dalley: "We can't ask for that iust now. , ~ Mr J Longton said at present they could ride one section for one penny and one-fifth. Mr Dalley: You have.to get a concession ticket. , Mr Longton: I think we should, encourage concession tickets—they save work on the trams. The .only way to tackle the penny section is to ask for. a penny section within the belts, it will be' hetter to go for more concessions and take away .the restrictions Another thing that is hindering the. trams is the mfrequency of tne Se Mr e i> W. Bartram said the. trams were losing passengers by charging 2d from the Souare to the Hospital. Mr Dallev moved: "That candidates be whether they are £ favour of a penny fare within the_belts Mr. \ J Scott seconded the motion. He said that the more tramway passengers there were in tte .city.area the more relief there would be of the congestion on the footpaths. Air R. J. Todhunter moved as an amendment: ."That.the £|s fares be restored, Id for theji rst sec tion, 2d for the second, and 3d foi the third, and so on.. Mr Gourlay, in seconding the amend- %£ discussion the amendment was rejected by six votes to five. , Mr Gourlay moved as a ™ rtnc * amendment: "That both questions be nut to candidates.' , ■ * P The amendment was ruled 011- ot order. , , The motion was agreed to. Air Longton moved: mat canai dates also be asked if they are in favour of the -Board charging "Id for any nnp section over all lines. which was agreed.to hi the followint terms. "Are you in favour of there Btoration of the penny & erf J? n- *J a s_£ the-cost for any-single section-on any lin it'wai d 'decided to delete the question : "Reorganisation of the tramway, staff, especially higher."

Concession Tickets. Questions regarding concession, tickets were considered.together: They were- Greater uniformity, transfenbUity, and unlimited time for concession *Mr Bartram urged that concession tickets should be on sale like stamps. Mr Longton said at New Brighton and Sumner concession.tickets were obtainable at certain stores. It was decided to ask no questions of candidates- regarding concession tickets.

Shopping Fares,

Mr Longton moved: "That the Tramwav Board be asked to initiate' shopping fares at half rates between 9 a.m. and 12 noon and .2 p.m. and 4 p.m." . Mr Holland seconded the motion. The chairman considered that this was a matter that could be left till the new Board was elected. Mr Longton and.his seconder agreed to this.

Abolition of Tree Passes,

It was agreed that candidates should be asked: "Are vou in favour of the abolition of all'free passes on the trams?"

North Beach Line.

"Is the candidate in favour of the re-establishment of the . Burwood to North Beach service?" was the next subject considered. Mr Cornelius eaid he thought the decision to cut out the service was a mistake, though lie voted for the line to be taken up. (Laughter.) The chairman asked if it would carry any weight with the public if they agreed to the question, seeing that the ratepayers had voted for the service to be cnt out.

Mr Scott moved and Mr Bartram seconded: "That the question lie deleted."

»Vir Todhuntcr said that 90 per cent, of the people knew nothing about the service Many voted on the understanding that an adequate and satisfactory service would be substituted. The present service was neither. He alleged that one or two members of the Board who had been in faTour of cutting out the service were now in favour of it. The motion was agreed to.

Mr Cornelius moved and Mr Todhunter seconded: "That the Tramway Board bo written to asking it to reestablish the service to North Beach during the summer time period." The discussion was chiefly in oppns'tion to the motion on the ground that the Board was not likely to go contrary to the wishes of the ratepayers. The motion was negatived.

A Resignation. Mr Dalley asked that his resignation as a member of the Association's Tramway Committee be accepted. He asserted that the Association had stultified itself by deciding to ask some questions that only would be answered in. the negative. He complained that the recommendations of the committee had been ignored, and that he had not been supported by other members of the committee. Mr Gourlay said he did not think Mr Dalley would desert them like thi*. Did it follow that if the Association