TRAMWAY REVENUE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 173, 19 April 1937, Page 10

TRAMWAY REVENUE

Christchurch Deficit of £20,000 By Telegraph—Press Association. Ciirislcliiirch, April 18. Despite increases of almost a quarter of a million in the number of passengers carried and of more than £lO,OOO in its gross earnings, the Christchurch Tramway Board’s deficit for the last financial year increased by £4646, bringing it to £20,258. The net earnings were down by £476 and expenses increased by £11,137. The chairman of the board. Mr. G. Manning, remarked to the board meeting on Saturday tliat, when tlie increase in earnings was noted and when tlie infantile paralysis epidemic was remembered, there was something tlie board should be pleased about. Mr. Manning said that had costs remained the same as in 1935 the deficit would have been only £5OOO. However, operating costs had more than absorbed the increased earnings. In its report to tlie board, tlie works and traffic committee pointed out that tlie year under review included two Easters. The 40-hour week instituted in tlie workshops iu 1935 had been extended to all departments in September last. Concession fares were increased in February and the committee also recalled that travel restrictions owing to the epidemic were not removed until February 6.