TRAMWAY FARES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17629, 5 December 1922, Page 6

TRAMWAY FARES.

I INCREASE SUGGESTED. j • RETIRING CHAIRMAN'S ' STATEMENT. An interesting statement regarding the working of the Christehurch tramways was made at yesterday's mooting of the Board by the retiring chairman, Mr S- A. Staples, ill the courso of which he stated that the question of raising tares was a matter that would have to receive the Board's attention leariy next year. Mr Staples said that the outstanding feature of the year's work had been the prosecution of the works authorised by the ratepayers in 1920. The construction of iifteen new electric cars of latest design, and with modern equipment, had been pushed on. Ten had been completed, and the balance would come into use in tho courso of a few months. The cost of these cars were £4500 each, which sobering fact should be borne in mind by passengers who wore so quickly inclined to ask i'or additional accommodation. Ten trailers had been added to the rolling stock ota cost of £I2OO each. The old repairs shoo had been converted into car cover and new repair shops had been built on a roomier site opposite. Up-to-date plant had also been installed, the total cost being £77,000. New tracks opened for traffic during the year had been the duplication o*f the Riccarton line from tho hospital to Clarence road; a lino in Lichfield street for the more convenient use of Riccarton traffic; the duplication of Cashmere line from Fisher street to Harrington street; an extension of the Spreydon line; new loops at the Papanui terminus to enable trailers to be parked clear of vehicular traffic; a now loop on the New Brighton line to enable a better service to be run on Simdays ; and a new loop near Torrens road on the Lincoln road lino. Several sections of the old track had also been renewed. More power had been provided for by the erection of an automatic sub-station at Fendalton to feed lliccarton, Fendalton, and Papnnui. It was planned to obviate the constant attention of engineers, thus reducing operating costs considerably. It was the most up-to-date, and probably most complex plant south of the line. The loans raised for these works amounted to £414,000, hut this sum would bo insufficient to complete the schedule to the extent of £75,000. Last year the total number of passengers was 15,742, 592. This year 15,729.226, showing a decrease of 13,366. The revenue last year was £157,600 and this year, excluding Easter traffic, £157,522. This check in revenue growth had an important bearing on the increase in standing charges, which tho loan expenditure would entail. It was very doubtful whether this increased outgoing could be met except by an increase in fares, and the matter would have to receive consideration early next year. After referring to the cost of administration which was stated to compare favourably with other centres, Mr Staples expressed satisfaction at the success attending the working of the Board's quarry at Redcliffs. Speaking of the stops taken in the direction of traffic conduct, he said that the safety zone created by the City Council in the front of the shelter in Cathedral square ought to have two results—not only would in provide protection for waiting tram passengers, but the roadway, as the result, ought to be much more free of pedestrians scattered over the whole width, than was formerly the case. The Board was paying £155,240 per annum in wages and salaries to its staff of 616 and contributed £4376 per annum to the Board's superannuation scheme. After references to what had recently been done in the direction of providing comfort and recreation for its employees, Mr Staples said in cohclusion: "I wish earnestly to impress upon members of the Board, in view of the increasing annual amount of overhead charges, and the all but stationary revenue, the great necessity for the Board not to undertake onv expensive new work until it is assured of an immediate and profitable return of revenue from the same, unless such work is absolutely necessary for the betterment of the existing service." Mr G. T. Booth congratulated the chairman on the success that had attended his efforts during his term of office.

Mr J. A. Flesher moved that the retiring chairman's remarks should be printed with the balance-sheet, tie was struck, he said, with the fact that practically all the revenue had been absorbed in paying the wages and salaries of the Board's staff. He hoped it would be the means of making the public realise how close the Board was sailing to the wind in the matter of finance and cause them to take notice of the chairman's warning that the question of an increase of fares would have to be. considered in the near future.

The motion was seconded by Mr D. Syke3 and carried unanimously.