CITY’S TRAM AND BUS SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 13

CITY’S TRAM AND BUS SERVICES

RECENT CIVIC LEAGUE CRITICISM

REPORT BY TRAMWAYS MANAGER

Wellington's bus and transport services were reported upon by the manager of the trainways department, Mr. M. Cable, in a statement he made at a meeting of the City Council last night. Mr. Cable’s statement was the outcome of a report by the Wellington Civic League on bus and tramway transport which had been forwarded to the council.

; Mr. Cable reports that after the dis- ’ continuance of the tramway eonces--5 sion tickets on the buses the receipts on the cash fare basis fell to about ’ £lBO per week —a clear indication that r many passengers had withdrawn their • patronage from the buses rather than i pay anything above ordinary tram ■ fares. As there was no improvement ! in the revenue, the department obtained authority in February, 1927, to in1 troduci a 4s. bus concession ticket for through riders. It was anticipated , that the introduction of this concession ticket would stimulate more riding on the buses, seeing that the fare was then only one penny in excess of the tram concession rate. The volume of traffic, however, did not increase, and consequently the department had no'alternative but to curtail the service three months after the introduction of the Concession ticket, and to confine the running to the morning and evening rush hours. As the patronage extended to the buses during the rush hours was disappointing, the service was further curtailed in September last. Universal Tramway Concession Ticket. “The introduction of the 3d. universal concession ticket on the tramway system, giving a concession amounting in the total to over £20,000 a year, has curtailed the income of the tramway department, and left a very small surplus of revenue over and above working expenses and capital charges.” the report continues. “In consideration of the narrow margin of profit on the tramway side of the undertaking the department has been compelled to keep in check the losses incurred on the bus services. Had this course not been followed the department would have had no alternative but to recommend a strengthening up of the revenue by the elimination of the present cheap long-distance fare—a concession which had been of great benefit to the residents in the outlying districts, as evidenced by the large increase in population which has taken place in these areas during the past three years. “For the year ended March 31 last, seven and a half million passengers took advantage of this concession, and the returns of the past few months show that the number of passengers using these cheap tickets is rapidly increasing. It is necessary to point out - that an increase in tramway fares on account of bus losses will result in the vast majority of the passengers carried on the tramcars being penalised in order to provide more extended bus services to a relatively small number of residents. ■ Development Promoted. “As the result of the cheap tram fare on the long-distance rides,” concludes the report, “the outlying districts have deI veloped at a remarkable rate, and the j department is facing a constant demand I for increased tramway accommodation to meet whiclran accelerated car-building programme must be maintained. Regarding the development of transport in districts not provided with tramway facilities. it is the intention of the department to- add ■ bus trips on existing services where the business offering is sufficient to earn revenue nt least equal to the bus running -cost, and not taking into account interest or depreciation charges.” Comments on the Report. Councillor J. Aston hoped the council would develop the tramways and be very careful in extending bus services. j Councillors McKeen and .Semple agreed that the tramway services should be extended. Commending the action of the Civic League, Councillor J. Burns said it had brought forth an excellent report. The council was unanimous in adhering to the threepenny fare, and he agreed that expense in running the buses should be kept down to the minimum. The Mayor referred to the fact that a large sum was taken from the tramway earnings to meet the losses on 1 lie buses, but they still showed a profit. But they would have lean years ns well, and they must conserve their finance as carefully as possible. While the needs ' of the suburbs had been catered for, they had to provide for those more remotely 1 served, and that could only be done by buses. The council would not hold to any hide-bound methods, and the more distant suburbs as they became more thickly populated would give better returns on the buses. The council was not against the buses, but they must .see that the losses were not such as would jeopardise the whole service. The report was received and adopted. '