The season-ticket holders on the railways are taking the field
against the proposal that the price of season tickets should be further increased. Their resentment is to be measured by their disappointment because they had hoped that the economies which were to result from the amalgamation of the lines would mean lower not higher prices. They have not forgotten, either, that at the beginning of this year when ordinary passenger fares were reduced no favours were shown to the season- ticket holders. The price of their tickets remained at 50 per cent, above the pre-War rate. The season-ticket holder is almost bound to be an easy victim ; he simply must travel ; the possession of a season ticket is the emblem and proof of the necessity. No doubt, therefore, the advisers of the railways think that money can be got out of the season-ticket holder more easily than out of anybody else. This is no doubt true, but much may yet happen. The campaign of the season-ticket holder will be picturesque and may be influential. In the mean- time, the final decision has not been taken ; the Railway Rates Tribunal is considering the companies' proposal, and the voice of the Tribunal has yet to be heard. If prices went up the hardship on the suburban householder would, of course, be extreme. More expensive season tickets mean, in effect, an addition to his rent, and in many cases that rent has already been raised by the new Income Tax assessments.
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