TRAMWAY REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 3

TRAMWAY REFORM.

THE PROPOSED CONCESSION TICKETS. The impression created by the discussion which followed tho presentation of tho city electrical engineer's report on'sections and faros at the City Council mooting on. Thursday oveping appeared to be that tho new tickets proposed wore to be on tho present coupon system. This was not tho case, tho idea being to do away with tho coupons on tho spoeial lines dealt with, and 6uostituto a 24 or 12-trip cardboard ticket, numbered round tho edge, each number representing t a • ride. For every trip tho conductor-would, punch out a number with a'spccial punch. It is understood that the idea in drawing np the report was to meet permanent residents only, and not that'thocasual traveller should avail himself of the concession. • The great--est exception was taken to the new scheme, because it would,necessitate a person buyjng a full ticket, which he. could only uso himself. If ho had other members of his family with him each would require to havo a separate ticket, or else'pay; tho full fare—ths ono ticket coulcj not be used to pay for mora than the one person. This idea did not appeal to some councillors} but tho official explanation is that it must b©'adhered to) in order to prevent abuses and, safeguard the rovenno of tho tramways. For instance, a man who really required tho concession, would welcome a monthly tickct,, which would place' him in tho same position in regard:to the. members of his family'as under tho present proposal, and, further, casual travellers, who had no claim to a concession,'coulS, if tho new tickets wore made'.'available', for other . than tho. holders, reap an, ; unintended advantage. For instance, a"'party of .people i * might come in from, say, tho Hutt on a picnic to, say, Island Bay. . The party,, if each ticket was available to pay .for any number of persons, would simply purchase a card, and' travel'at tho special rate, which was only intended to extend to residents entitled to a .concession.v;. Tho isamoi'.argunient would apply in. cases, such as football and hockey iteams, which it was not sought ( to benefit under the new;, scheme'. ' /The proposals 1 outlined -by Mr. Richardson were'not. 1 framed with, tho intention of'increasing the. traffic,, but for the purpose of giving permanent residents; who travel regularly, some concession. •'■' On tho< actual working, tho.city would probably be giving something away by the chango, even,, with the restriction that, the concession' v ticket should only be used by tho person who ' purchased it; which restriction, is hold to'.bi. absolutely vital to the succcss of tho scheme. .. i