HIGHER RAILWAY FARES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 24 November 1930, Page 13

HIGHER RAILWAY FARES.

PROTEST UNSUCCESSFUL.. REPLY FROM MINISTER. Following a protest mate to the Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. A. Veiteh) by the Christchurch Labour members of Parliament when it was announced recently that workers' concession tickets on the ChristchurchLyttelton railway line were to b« charged at higher rates, a reply has been received from the Minister by Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., and Mr J. MeCombs, M.P. The reply maintains that even at the increased rates the workers' fares are lower than those existing in other countries, and compare favourably with workers' fares on the different tramway systems. The text of the Minister's letter is as follows: — "With further reference to your representations regarding the increased charges on workers' tickets and fruit, I desire to inform yon that the increases which have been made were recommended by the Royal Commission which recently enquired into railway matters. As you .are no doubt aware, the Railway Department has for many years .been carrying certain classes of traffic at rates that did not afford a reasonable remuneration for the service performed. With the. recently-developed other means of transport and its conse--quent effect upon the revenue of the Railway Department it has become necessary to review the scales of charges and conditions under which traffic of all classes can be carried. . "In determining which "classes of traffic should be increased consideration ■ was given, to the effect -an increase would have upon those who would be affected thereby.. . "The increases in workers' fares, still make them "lower than: those obtaining in ■ other countries aild compare favourably with-the fares charged for. workers on the different tramway systems in the Dominion. "With regard to the increases in the rate on fruity X desire to point that the rates on this commodity: certainly do not afford the Department a reasonable return and were granted at a .time when the fruit industry was in an early stage of development..-It' is . considered it has now emerged out of this stage sufficiently to enable it; to bear a higher rate than hitherto. "In conclusion, I desire to.point out that even at the; increased rates the [ carriage of workers and. fruit will not be remunerative traffic." Mr Howard's Comment. Mr Howard, in commenting on this letter yesterday, said that of all the workers in New Zealand the waterside workers of Lyttelton would be hardest hit by the increase. The men had to go to the port each day, and did not know until they got there whether they would be given any work to do or not, and in fact, more often than not, 25 per cent, of them did not get a start. The work was intermittent, and though a man had to procure a week's ticket he might obtain only one day's work. Those men who were in constant work at the port were not so much affected, but to the others it was a heavy tax. "These Lyttelton waterside workers should really be carried free, and at the least they should have special treatment," said Mr Howard, "The Government has a monopoly of the carriage of goods to and from the port, and it seems that that is what should be done for the men. I hope that the shipping companies will intervene on the men's behalf."