TRAMWAY FARE SCHEDULE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22432, 20 June 1938, Page 17

TRAMWAY FARE SCHEDULE

Possible Revision Indicated

HIGHER RATE TO HE LEVIED

Possible revision of the tramway fare schedule is mentioned in a report of the works and traffic committee oj the Christchurch Tramway Board, which was adopted at a meeting oi the board on Saturday. It was stated that after a general rate bringing in £28,000 had been levied there would be a deficiency of £4OOO.

“The committee has decided to exercise its full authority under the Christchurch Tramway District Act, 1920, and proposes to raise a general rate of 3-16 d in the £ on the capitaJ value of the Christchurch tramway district,” stated the report. “This general rate will produce, after deduction of cost of collection, the sum of £28,000. To provide the estimated balance of the deficiency of £4OOO, it may become necessary to revise the fare schedule.

. “The board, in common with other industrial concerns, has to cope wu increased costs, and is compelled to obtain revenue from fares and rates to cover any revenue deficiency.”

The chairman (Mr E. Parlane) said that Increases and prospective increases in salaries and wages accounted principally for the higher expenditure, and the board had no option but to keep the wages up to the level of other employers. Other costs had also gone up, said Mr H. E. Denton. The report stated that the committee had considered a report from the general manager (Mr H. E. Jarman) covering the estimated deficiency for the year ending March 31, 1939. Details of inct me and expenditure were supplied, and provision made for increased expenditure through new industrial awards recently put in operation and also for awards which had. expired and for which new proposals had been lodged. The deficiency, including provision for present and future increases in expenditure, had been estimated at £32,000 for the year.

A special meeting of the aboard will be held on July 9 to pass an order making the rate and directing its collection.

The estimated expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1939, is as follows:—Traffic expenses, including wages of traffic staff, £93,136; repairs and maintenance, £39,040; power expenses, £19,812; general expenses, £21,175; interest, £34,372; sinking fund, £17,550: renewals, £25,795; total, £250,886. The money available was shown as follows; Estimated revenue from all sources, other than rates, £222,886; additional sum required by ' way of rates, exclusive of cost of collection. £28,000; total. £250.886.

The capital value of the Christchurch tramway district was stated to be £36,665,479.

The deficiency for the year ending March 31. 1838, was £21,583, and during that year the rate, brought in £19,000.