TRAMWAY BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14760, 2 September 1913, Page 3

TRAMWAY BOARD.

YESTERDAY'S MEETING. A meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present:—Messrs J. A. Fiesher (chairman), H. Pearce, S. A. Staples, C. M. Gray, D. Sykes, A. W. Beavcn. G. T. Booth, I>r. Thacker, and the Hon. J. Ban-. WORKS AND TRAFFIC COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Works and Traffic Committee n> ported that one of the rules of the Board required that the conductors should satisfy themselves at the commencement of each section that all fares had been collected. This might involvo asking passengers to produce their tickets. A number of conductors were prepared to carry out the rule strictly, but refrained because all the conductors did not do so, and they did not wish to be considered unduly officious by the public. The committee desired the public to know that the conductors were only carrying out their duty when thej asked for the production of tickets, but in order not to unduly inconvenience the public it had been decided to limit the. compulsory examination of tickets on outward journeys- to the Ist and 2nd section leaving the city, and to. the commencement of every special rating area line, and also to the last section on the inward journey, i.e., the first section from the city. However, if the I conductor was in doubt it was his duty to respectfully ask for the production of a ticket. The enforcement of the rule was expected to reduce the possibility of conductors being reported for "nils el fares,' , and at the same time the Board's revenue would benefit considerably. The committee pointed out that while it was the duty of the conductor to collect- farce from "all the passengers, the committee, wished it to bo known that there was, \inder the by-laws, a corresponding obligation on passengers ] to tender their fares if they had a reasonable opportunity to do so. Referring to the revenue account, the committee noted with appreciation that while there had been an increase in receipts as compared with the corresponding period last year, there had been a doorcase in operating expenses. The committee had boon petitioned to run an additional trip on the Burwood line to arrive in the city about 8.25 a.m. The Committee could not see its way to comply with the request. Mr Beaven thought that special emphasis should be placed upon the obligation on the part of the passengers to tender their fares. Tho Chairman said it might be mentioned that if the public do not tender their fares they are liable to prosecution according to the by-laws. On tho motion of Mr Booth it was decided to strike out the words after "known" in tho last clause, and add " that passengers failing to pay their fares are liable to prosecution." Mr Gray blamed a proportion of the conductors for not collecting fares. They did their work so rapidly, sometimes, that the passengers hacT little opportunity to pay their fares. Mr Staples said he had noticed some peoplo holding their money in . their hands, but making little attempt to attract the' conductor's attention when they might reasonably do so. Mr Pearce: What is the conductor on the car for? Mr Gray: To collect fares. Mr Pearce: Exactly; well he should do so. Mr Booth said there was an obligation on tho conductor to collect fares, but there was an equal obligation on the passengers to tender their fares. The Hon. J. Barr said the trouble was that the public did not realise that the tramways belonged to them, or they would not be so ready to miss paying their fares. '- y - ' With the suggested alteration the report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The Town Clerk iMr H. R. Smith) wrote, stating that the Council would bo prepared to accept dedication of land piven by Mr Brightling at the angle in LangUown street, for widening tho said street.—lt was decided to pass tho matter on to the Board's solicitor, to do whnt was necessary. Tho Town Clerk of Sumner wrote, etating that the Council agreed to tho appointment of Mr Short as arbitrator in the matter of the tramway causeway under the cliffs.—Received. The Beckenham-Fisherton Residents' Association wrote, stating that a resolution had been passed at a meeting of the Association, asking the Tramway Board to consider the extension of the present penny section, commencing at Wordsworth street and terminating at Tennyson street to the next street, viz., Fieher street. The Association the Board would meet tho Association's wishes and make irtsher street the terminus of the 2d section from the Square. It was decided to hold the matter over until the receipt of the general manager's report on the question of sections overlaps, etc. TRAFFIC RETURNS. Tho traffic returns for the four weeks ended August 10th, 1913, were as folfollows—l9l2 figures in parenthises:— Total number of passengers carried, 1.115,304 (1,142,523); net Teceipte £8662 (£8113); net receipts for current year to date, no Easter, £42,824 (£41,944, including Easter), a total increase of £380. There were Iβ wet days in the 1912 period, and 4 in 1913. REVENUE ACCOUNT. The revenue account for tho four weeks ending August 10th, 1913, was as followc—l9l2 figures in parenthises;— Gross earnings from operation as per Schedule "A," £8926 (£8592); operating expenses as per Schedulo "B," £5730 (££161); net earnings from operation, £3196 (£2431); deduct: interest and sinking fund, £2168 (£2077); depreciation and renewals, £1994 (£1803); firo and accident reserve fund £80 ; deficiency, £1055 (£1535). The deficiency for 1913 to date, less rates for special rating areas was £3085 (£3593). ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £6025 2s 2d were passed for payment.