SUBURBAN TRAM FARES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 118, 15 November 1939, Page 8

SUBURBAN TRAM FARES

1 (To the Editor.)

' Sir, —As members of the executive of the central committee of the Suburban Electors' Association, Mr. Hardie Boys, Mr. Gregory, and myself presented the case for the suburbs before the Price Tribunal and the evident result bf Mr. Hardie Boys's preparation and appeal to the Court was that the suburban- areas were successful in opposing any increase in bus fare. For the information of the Karori residents I rang up the representative of the Karori Association to join the deputation, but he declined to join up as the City Council had treated Karori so well in the past, with which as an individual I .agree.

The deputation stressed the fact that the finances of the tramways were as good for 1939 as for 1938. Though the credit balance yhad dropped from £9509 to £1368 there were appropriations out of the net revenue account of not less than £13.331 which were only book entries, e.g., £7369 written off the horse tramway purchase apcount. £2741 written off the preliminary expenses, and £3221 was written off obsolete equipment and stock. These figures show that the tramways have at least £10,000 to cover the increased charges in wages, etc., and that there was no need to raise fares at all.

We suggest that the proper course to follow was to wait till after the Exhibition before raising the fares to see the real financial position. It was also pointed but that the bus accounts were handicapped with the heavy amount charged to wipe off thee original cost of taking over the private