TRAM FARES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 587, 16 August 1909, Page 5

TRAM FARES.

Sir,—Can you suggest a reason for the silence of. the Island < Bay. residents in I reference to the proposed alterations in the above? Surely there is a bit of. "Rip Van Winkle" about thenij.and they will,wake.up too late, that is, if -the council passes their present proposals. I have .noi< taken any part in tho movement for alteration, fully realising that the old fare, viz., , 6d. return, was a reasonable one. , The prime movors in the request for the reduction were mainly builders and speculators, who found, that their properties were standing vacant through the high rents they wero exacting, and therefore reckoned, if they bring sufficient pressuro to bear, the council would be compelled to reduce, their fares sufficiently to repopulate tho bay. Unfortunately for them, the council was too "long-winded;" and the owners had to reduce their rents to a reasonable figure, which quickly had' the desired effect of filling the vacant houses once more, but not at the expense of the city. This is the position up to now. : Now the council _is bringing matters to a bead,.,so far as they are concerned, but, instead of giving us a concession,, they are really taking ono away from us, and we will be decidedly worse off than before. ' They propose to give us a concession, of 3d. per week on tho one hand; but, on the other, they take away-the privilege of running to the termini, which we have on the present return ticket. This does not affect me personally, but theTo are scores of men living here whose work often takes them to Brooklyn, Kilbirnie, etc. Where is tho concession to them ? Or to tho, families who wish to go to the. Botanical Gardens for an outing? The manager's objection to the return ticket is that it is abused 1 It may bo by a few; why penalise all the rest of us? If it is, whose fault is it? It can only bo tho gross carelessness of tho conductors and inspectors, 'especially with tho present form in uso. Thoro is ample tiino for tho conductor to examine, every ticket in the car after., leaving Riiitoul Stroo.t, to make suro they are' properly punched, and thereby provent their abuse Councillor . Hindniarsh says this ticket is not availed of to any extent.by.the rceidonts. Sir, ho, ie talking rubbish, and .shows hia lack of knowledge of tho subject

Instead of doing away with these privileges, he should he the first to stick out for tneir retention. What advantage is the.3d. a week to the travellers in comparison? I hope,, sir, others interested will make a move before' it is too late: 1 for • one am prepared to 1 co-op6rative.—l am, etc., ■-."■■■ > ■■ J' ■■■■■■ RETURN.August 14.''