Disappointment At Drop In Bus Patronage

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30631, 23 December 1964, Page 9

Disappointment At Drop In Bus Patronage

It was indeed disappointing to see the continuing drop in passengers, but this followed a world-wide trend in public transport, and the fall-off | more closely followed the I trend of the curve of increased car registrations, the chairman of the Christchurch Transport Board's finance committee (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) reported to a meeting of the board. “A noticeable feature is that the board today has to oper-| ate an annual mileage of 4.500.000 to cary 20,262,579 passengers, compared with a similar patronage figure in 1938 which required a total mileage of only 3,100,000. “The increased mileage in many cases is a result of the outward growth of Christchurch, which makes the average journey distance greater i than it was 26 years ago. I necessitating the use of a i greater number of buses,” the report said. The revenue for the four: weeks ended November 8 de-' creased by 2.7 per cent, a de-' crease of £1341 over the same period last year and £874 less than was estimated. Passenger revenue decreased by.

i £l7OO, or 3.6 per cent, and was £1233 less than estimated. : Operating expenses increased by £1767, or 3.5 per 'cent, and were less than estimated by £477. There was a working loss of £4435, an increase of £3lOB over the same period last year, and £397 in excess of the estimate. The increased expenditure was a result of the increased cost as a result of the 6 per cent wage increase awarded by the Court of Ari bitration. The deficiency to date amounted to £98.416. a decrease of £548 over the same period last year, and £5834 less than estimated. Passenger journeys decreased by 66.884. or 4.4 per cent. Total revenue for the period was £48.895, and operatj ing expenses were £52.530. Mileage was 351,091. PassenI gers carried numbered 1.464,189, and passenger revI enue was £44,981. Mileage increased by 9530 or 2.8 per cent. This was because of the introduction of the Lyttelton service and extensions to the Fendalton route, the report said.