TRAMWAY FARES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 632, 8 October 1909, Page 9

TRAMWAY FARES.

THE TWENTY-FOUR-TRIP CONCESSIONS. RECENT ALTERATIONS CANCELLED. The recent alterations in the tramway'fares, mndo on the recommendation of Mr. Stuart Richardson, City Electrical Engineer, have been tho; subject of a good deal of adverse criticism' among users of the cars. The, tramway reorganisation was discussed at tho City Council meeting last night, when Councillor Fletcher submitted tho following proposals:— That the resolution of tho council of ' Augu6t 26, adopting the olectrical engineer's report ro tramway faros and sections, bo rescinded in so far, as it provides for tho issue of twonty-fouf-trip tickets on the various sections. '■ -That twelve-trip tickets bo issued in lieu of the twenty-four-trip tickets referred ti) in ' the report of tho electrical engineer adopted • at a meeting of the council held on August 26.In moving his motions,, Councillor Fletcher said a great hardship was enforced on people, who had to pay a considerable sum of money before they could take advantage of tho concession tickets which'provided for twenty-four trips. He'was certain that tho tramway department was losing money over these twenty-, four-trip tickets, and he was sure Councillor Frost would beolr him out when he citod Brooklyn as one suburb which would patroniso tho twelve-trip idea, and whore now'a.considerable number of people were walking down the hill in preference to taking oiit a twenty-four trip ticket. He foiled to' understand why any: objoc. tiOn" should' be taken to tho' twelve-trip .ticket. The olectrical engineer had made a special point of tho oxpenso —- ■ ; ■'■ . „ - The Mayor: "The engineer is with us now. Continuing, Councillor. Fletcher went on to say that the twonly-four-trip ticket from Island Bay cost ss. Cd.„ which was a heavy toll on a man who-had. to' tako out several tickets for his family before ho could reap tho advantage of tho concession. The recently-established system.came very, hard on .many suburban re-, sidents. , ' ~ Councillor Frost seconded,the motion. ...... Councillor Shirtcliffe remarked that the electrical engineer had been insistent upon having bis- scheme adopted in its entirety. It had been' desired to watch the working, of the scheme .for twelve months, and at the ena of. that period any alterations thought desirable could be made. Ho was opposed to anything that would decrease the tramway, revenue,, and the .electrical engineer estimated that a: loss of JS2OO per year would be made if twelve-trip tickets were issued, instead of twehty-four-trip tickets. He considered that the schemehad not been given a sufficient trial, and he would oppose the resolution. . . ' . ' "o,ie can find in Wellington now more tramway managers to the square yard than could be found in the whole 6f Europe," said Councillor M Laren, "and that is-,what we are up against now." '■ ' • ■'. . : Councillor Luko held that 'there was, very little concession .for suburban residents in'the present arrangements; ho would support tho proposals of Councillor Fletcher. ; ; Tho Mayor said, that ho had gone into the matter carefully,, and ho agreed absolutely with Councillor Fletcher that, instead of- a loss .in revenue, the adoption- of twelve-trip tickets would result in considerable t gain. Councillor Shirtcliffo. moved as au amendment to tho second resolution that twelve-trip tickets should bo issued at 35., 2s. 9d., 2s. 6d\, and Is.' Bd., instead of 55.,. 35., is. 6d., and 3s. respectively. : The two original resolutions'were carried by a largo. majority. ■;■.-....