KARAKA BAY BUS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 14, 11 October 1921, Page 5

KARAKA BAY BUS

Sir,—I agree with the paragraph in Saturday’s issue re above. The City Council'took the Miramar borough in by amalgamation, and surely it is their business to at least provide the same facilities for residents to get to and from their hbmes us the Borough Council provided. Karaka Bay residents, ten years ago, travelled by steamer for 3s. weekly, twice a day if they wished, when rates were 200 per cent. less. Now it. will cost a resident nearly Bs. a week. Eastbourne Borough. Council to-day give a weekly ticket for about 3s. 6d. to Bonn Buy—Karaka Bay by water is only about half the distance, and in order to reach it fhe cost is nearly 125 per cent. more. Tho onus is on the City Council to continue tho bus at a reasonable fare, and to pool the loss with other sections of tho tramway. Karori, Wadesfown, and Brooklyn cars don’t pay—they are pooled. Tho bus from Karaka Bay is a feeder for the cars, and tho council get a good revenue from them. The City Council has not given the residents a square deal, or. In other words, they have not plaved tho game, and they must know that. The Tramway Committe® were given full particulars of the position by tho writer at their meeting when I addressed them last week. Ratepayers will withhold the payment of their rates until tho council assures them of a satisfactory service; it is their business to see to it now, nnd play the game.—l am, etc., JAMES MUIR.

Sir, —In to-day’s issue of your worthy paper, I notice that on the recommendation from tho Power Stations and Tramways Committee the Karaka Bay bus service is to be discontinued. When the question of amalgamation of Miramar with .Wellington was broAght up, the residents were promised by the City Council that no curtailment of means of transit would be made. Why, therefore, are those "platfonn" promises not adhered to? Under the control of the Miramar Borough Council tho annual loss from the bus service was borne by the borough. Why is if that the City Council finds itself unable to meet this comparatively trifling loss? One wonders where all the revenue from the borough is going to now. Prolxibly to keep ‘he city Hico and fat and hide its waste. Wfiy this sudden economical over-vigil-ance by the Power Stations and Tramwavs Committee? Wihy go so far afield and fix on Karaka Bay to suffer for the city’s extravagances and wanton waste? A 'loss of a paltry 5500 (if that?) is suddenly put before the public eye by these "extremely careful” committees. A loss that could be more than compensated for by doing away with some of the "sinecure” pneitions that far too numerous "officials” occupy. The council proposes to spend some 58000 on bottles Gave the bottles!) for milk delivery; and 54011 for washing them. Oh, these hare-brained. Stone Age schemes that waste and waste the city’s revenue. Let them freeze the milk and deliver it in symmetrical blocks, save tho 58400, and let Karaka Bay keep its bus. —I am, etc., YBAES RESIDENT.