THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 21 October 1913, Page 9

THE TRAMWAY SERVICE.

Sir,—As a traveller through ant]), as a sojourner in many other countries of tho world and as a visitor to Wellington, let mo express through your paper an opinion on some local public conveniences. I havo been a month in Auckland, fivo weeks' in Napier and Hastings, a fortnight (in Gisbome. I havo been in Palmcrston North, Wanganui, and Now Plymouth, and this is my second visit to Wellington. I intend going south, but before I leavo I would-indeed be much favoured if I saw tlijs letter published in what appears to mo to bo tho most onterprising of tho threo local papers. Wellington trams ars to a visitor nothing 'short of puzzling, perhaps humorous, but _ thoy must bo a serious difficulty to residents and to tho local public generally. For what purpose tliey aro, really Tun is certainly a riddle. For the convenience of the public? The benefit of tho corporation, or tho convenience of tho conductors? Certainly not for the convenience of the public, because tho cars aro absurdly high above tho ground, and are generally noisy, draughty, and sometimes dirty. Tliey are usually overcrowded at busy times, and old and feeble people, finding alighting difficult and dangerous, cannot safely use them. Cortainly not for tho benefit of tho local corporation, for I am informed they don't pay. Cortainly not for tho convenienco of tho conductors, for tliey aro harassed by an intricate ticket and section' system, and-; on many of tho airs aro continually in danger of being knocked off tho footboard by passing vehicles and tho excess of passengers. I recently read somo comments on tho Wellington tram service. The following is an extract: —"Thcso aro only clianco instances of tho appalling . mismanagement in detail, which is gradually malcing tho Wellington tram system notorious, and it is really time that tho authorities responsible did something to provo that thoy are not quits tlio official dunderheads that they seem to be-." If the corporation can .suffer such oriticism as this it must indeed bo immovable. It also- suggests, that it any other local body wishes to learn how not to ..manage trams, let it conjo •to Wellington.—l am, etc., mITOII