IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22250, 15 November 1937, Page 14

IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES

TRAMWAY BOARD'S OPERATIONS

FEWER PASSENGERS CARRIED

The operations of the Christchurch Tramway Board for the period of four ■weeks ending October 10 showed an improvement of £476 over those of the corresponding period last year. A better comparison of the figures for these two periods can now be given as the 40hour week and the same rates of pay for thfe boards' employees were in operation for last year's period. This explanation was given at a meeting of the board on Saturday by the chairman (Mr G. Manning). "If normal things occur we will be on the right side," he Ticket receipts amounted to £15,236, an increase of £1255, and revenue from other sources to £422, making a total increase in the earnings of £1234. Operating expenses, amounting to £11,910, also showed an increase of £512, and standing charges (£5780) were increased by £246. The deficiency was £2032. The biggest increase in the revenue account was from cash fares, which amounted to £6865, an increase of £641 over last year's figures. Increases were also shown in the revenue from trip cards, passes, and apprentice tickets, the only decrease being shown in the revenue from school tickets. The total number of passengers carried, 1,477,229, showed a decrease of 18,379 over the figures for the same period last year, although the number of cash fares carried increased by 48,290. This decrease in passengers was not reflected in the revenue account, which was £1255 better than last year's fig--1 ures.

CARNIVAL WEEK TAKINGS |gfc

INCREASE IN TRAMWAY REVENUE

"PERPLEXING DECREASE ON

SHOW DAYS"

An increase of £323 in the cash tak-

ings on all tramways routes during the seven days of Carnival Week, compared with tfie same period last year is shown in a report which was presented to the Christchurch Tramway Board at a meeting on Saturday morning Increases are shown each day for i the first five days and decreases of I £ll and £53 for Thursday and Friday. The figures are>-

Total .. 6037 5714 "It is peculiar that all the other days should show an increase and Thursday and Friday a decrease," remarked the chairman, Mr G. Manning. "Thursday last year was the Royal Show. It was a big day; much bigger than last Thursday," said Mr A. A. McLachlan. , Discussing the decrease in Friday's figures, the chairman said that it caused him a bit of perplexity. "With the ideal weather, the races and the show, we find that we are down £53." "There's an increase in the number of motor-cars," remarked the Hon. J. K. Archer.

1937. £ 1936. £ Saturday ... 863 743 Sunday t, 332 217 Monday ,. 1109 1041 Tuesday .. 801 765 Wednesday .. 705 657 Thursday .. 984 995 Friday ». 1243 1296