TRAMWAY FINANCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 8

TRAMWAY FINANCE.

PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE. (Contributed.) The portion of a tramway system which pays best, in fact the only portion that does pay, is that which runs through a fairly dense area of population. The feeder lines running through more sparsely populated, districts are all a losing proposition. These lines are laid down as a result rather of district agitation and the personal persuasion of the residents rather than of ■due regard to their paying possibilities; with the result that the income of Hlie whole system is barely enough to pay interest on loans and_ working expenses. Jn view of the fact that the residents of the city are electing a new Tramway Board let them consider the future, and let our new Board take a broad view of the extremely important duties imposed oil them. They have maturing in the next 10 years loans amounting to a very large sum, and we are told that tho greater part of our rails will have to be relaid during the next five years. Is the present system of- electric trams going to be the means of transit of our population five years from now! It is very doubtful if it is. In fact, of the big cities of the world to-day, there is hardly one that would not scrap the whole of its electric tramway system to-morrow were it not for the fact that they can get nothing in return for the capital expenditure.

Let our new Board consider what is the street transit sj'stem of the future and take heed accordingly. It might be good policy for the Tramway Board to say, "We will not expend one penny more on new lines or new equipment. We will gradually abolish our tramlines as they wear out, and establish motor-bus services instead with a license and tribute, such tribute to go towards paying for tram loans." The reason ftfr the early death of the present tram system is obvious: it cannot compete with the motor-bus. The passengers have to stand in the road at the risk of their lives as they get on or off. The motor-bus picks them up off the footpath at no personal risk. Trams are noisy and nerveracking, and uncomfortable to ride in; the motor-bus is quiet and exhilarating. Trams have no flexibility and block all traffic both ways; the motorbus can dodge traffic and make a better speed average through similar density of traffic. The cost of operation of trams, is high, and their service is limited on single lines by the need for arranging cars to pass one another, with consequent delay and annoyance. The motor-bus is flexible and during gala days and rush hours the services can be increased to meet the situation. In short let our new Tramway Board take heed of the future and "let our ratepayers only entrust their system to men who are likely to take a broad view of the whole matter and not saddle the ratepayers with a further heavy capital expenditure 011 a system that five years hence may be doomed to extinction.

AUCKLAND FIGHTING THE BUSES. (SPECIAL TO "THE PHEiS. ') AUCKLAND, November 26. The Auckland City Council has set out to combat as far as possible the competition of motor buses with the tramway service. I>ew cars aro Deing ordered, and a faster tram service is being arranged. Jn addition twenty new motor buses are being secured to run as feeders to the trams. The Mayor tSir James Gunson) states that already tramway patronage lias improved, and the indications are that the estimated revenue for the year will be secured.