THE TRAM FARES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 March 1919, Page 3

THE TRAM FARES

•TlrPfcratriwaynien having succeeded in their screws raised, the question now is: how is the piper to be paid? Of course it goes without saying that the increased rates «f pay will be passed on to the public, but it is not yet settled in what way the public will have to pay, or wh?l section of the public will be called upon to pay the most. The proposal that one uniform fare of 2d for every passenger, irrespective of the distance covered should be levied, is open to the obvious objection that in that case the short-distance pfoSserigers would have to pay for the long distance ones, or rather make up the loss on the long journeys by paying twice as much as is now charged for the short ones. This plan would never answer, because if it were persisted in hundreds of people who now use the penny sections would case to ride in the cars, even if they had to walk. But they would not have to walk. Demand creates supply, and if penny tram-fares are abolished, penny 'buses or motor vehicles will assuredly cater for the short-distance passengers. However, the Mayor of Auckland assures us that the fare question is not yet settled, and urges citizens to bide a wee.