CROWDED TRAMCARS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 262, 24 July 1918, Page 4

CROWDED TRAMCARS

A MATTER OF POLICY. - Crowded tramcars, in rush hours at all events, are nowadays quite the usual thing. Some six or seven years ago every tramcar liail its licensed number of passengers exposed within the view of all, and no one was allowed to ride on centre or end platforms. That wan a beautiful ideal—too beautiful to last. Only tho other day fifteen persons were counted standing on tho centra platform of a double box-car, bound through tho Kilbimie tunnel, and there was a sardine pack on the back plntform. It cannot be helped." The people libyo to reach their hones, and there, is not enough cars, to cany them seated, so they are permitted to hang on. Tho tramway authorities admit that: this is tho case, and that there are times when the harassed conductors have not time to collect the fares, but the loss in revenue— and it is not considered to be a very largo one—is compensated for by the revenue, a crowded car produces, as compared with one just comfortably filled. Indeed, it has been said that the difference between profit and loss on the Wellington cars is represented by allowing the cars to bo "well packed." Tho license labels have all disappeared from the cars, and tho ideal that no one should bo allowed to ride who cannot find a seat is dead.

Incidentally there is to bo a meeting of the Tramway Employees' Union tonight to discuss tho overcrowding of earn, and a proposal to demand an incrcaso in wages.