BUS SERVICE LOSSES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28889, 8 May 1959, Page 14

BUS SERVICE LOSSES

Comparison For Two Cities

The losses of the Christchurch Transport Board and the Dunedin City Council’s transport service for the year ended March 31 were, on a mileage basis similar. The Dunedin loss was 7d a mile and the Christchurch loss worked out at 6.9 d a mile. A year ago, Dunedin was losing Is 2d a mile on its bus services and it faced a deficit greater than that budgeted for by the Christchurch Board. Actually. the Christchurch buses had a net earning of £3470; but standing charges for loan caused a deficiency for the last year of £157,650.

Christchurch’s revenue was £569.349 and Dunedin’s £418.000 Working expenses were reduced on the Dunedin services by £33,787. The operating expenses on the Christchurch system declined by £2436, but standing charges increased by £22,191

The loss in Dunedin in 1957-58 was £ 135.000. The Dunedin service does not cover the wide territory served by the Christchurch buses —from Sumner, in the east, to Templeton —and the buses there have no competition comparable to thai given by bicycles in Christchurch. Timetable alterations in Dunedin caused more complaints than in Christchurch. ‘‘The amendment of timetables to bring provision more into line with current demands of the public must make for a degree of inconvenience for certain sections," said Cr. C. J. Hayward (chairman of the transport committee) at this week’s meeting of the Dunedin City Council. ‘‘But it is clear that, with the many calls on the public purse, any excess service has to be withdrawn if the operating deficit is to be kept within manageable limits. This is now appreciated by tbje majority of the public.”