LABOUR POLICY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19163, 21 November 1927, Page 8

LABOUR POLICY.

♦ TRAMWAY ELECTION. PENNY SECTIONS PROPOSED. The Labour Party's platform for the election of members of the Tramway Board is as follows: (1) Establishment of a Metropolitan Board of Works. (2) Reinstatement of Id section fares. (3) That the sale of concession tickets be re-organised with the view of making them as convenient aa possible: they shall be transferable. (4) Enquiry regarding workshop efficiency. (5) Bus services to be reorganised on a scientific basis. (6) Excursion fares to all resorts. (7) Inspector service to be reorganised for the purpose of assisting employees. Explaining some of the planks to a representative of The Press, Mr George Manning, a candidate for a seat oj the Board, said that if the principle of control by the Christchurch City Council was established it would mean a great reduction in overhead charges as all offices and all electrical engineers could be suppied by the Council without the council increasing its present staff. By reducing overhead charges, and increasing revenue by charging penny fares in the shopping area (thereby developing the tramway habit amongst the people) there probably would be an opportunity to meet the demand for a revision of fares. The reduction of the number of trips on concession cards to twelve would make it possible for working men to purchase such tickets; and if all restrictions could be cut out,ythen the working man and his family, no doubt, would use the trams to a greater extent. ( ' The bus services should be reorganised as feeders to the existing tramway system. Where a permanent tramway track had been laid it seemed absurd that a bus should run alongside, tearing up the other part of the roadway. It would be more economical for abuses to carry traffic to the nearest tramway. The duties of inspectors should be not so much to watch motormen and conductors and note their mistakes, but rather they should help the employees so that a better feeling should develop in the traffic department. Probably, by so doing, the men would encourage the public to ride on the trams. MORE ABOUT PENNY FARES. In his reply to the United Burgesses' Association's questionnaire, Mr D. Sykes, one of the sitting members of the Tramway Board, who is seeking reelection, says with regard to penny fares: "You can have penny fares, and a tramway rate, or you can have a short penny section and exploit the tram user. If a penny section. within the Belts means abolishing the free overlap from the square to Kilmore, Lichfield, and Manchester streets, it x would be no good to,either Spreydon or the Lincoln road lines. He had made an attempt to abolish the 15 rides for Is 6d, and replace it with one of 24 rides for 2s—a ticket that would be suitable over the whole system, and would not interfere with the free overi laps. ■ n