TRAMS AND LIGHT. THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1908, Page 2

TRAMS AND LIGHT. THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

INTERESTING RETURNS. Mr Stuart Richardson, city electrical engineer, presented an interesting return to the Tramways and Power Station Committee of the City Council at a meeting held last evening. The tramway traffic revenue for the four weeks ended 13th October was shown to ba £91*13. an increase of £866, and the total revenue amounted to £10,522, an increase- of £1344. The working expenses showed an increase of £611, leaving a gross surplus of £3450, or £732 more tlian last y*ar. Comparing the returns from Ist April to 13th October, 1908, with those of last year, the total revenue had increased by £9880. and the working expenses by £5887. After providing tor proportion ', of interest charges £1116, sinking fund £2660. and depreciation £7266, amounting in all to £21,042, the net surplus to date was £2118, as compared with a debit balance last year of £536. The total revenue per car mile was 14.68 d, and in 1907 13.82 d, giving an increase of .86d. The total of passengers carried during the four weeks was 1,652,453, with a revenue of £9144 12s, an against 1,492,874 passengers, and a revenue- of £8277 4s lOd. in 1907, an increase of 159,579 passengers and £867 >7s 2d m takings. ELECTRIC LIGHTING. The figures supplied by the engineer relating to electric lighting covered the month of September and the half-year ended 30th September. " Compared with tho corresponding period of 19Q7, the revenue has" (the engineer states.) "increased by £1259, and the working expenses by £1198. The increase in expenses is principally accounted for by the extra rent and rates charged for tho Mercer-stroet and Harris-street sites, and amounting to £779 for the half-year. After providing for interest charges (£3549), sinking fund (£1500) and depreciation (£2750), amounting in aYI to £7799, the credit balance for tho half-year is shown to ;be £5986. This balance," the report states, " will not be sustained during the second half of the financial year, as the revenue during the summer •months is very small, and will be insufficient to cover working expenses and proportion of standing charges. Last year, for the period from Ist October, 1907, to 31st. March, 1908, the- revenue fell short of working expenses and proportion of standing charges by £1068 I anticipate, therefore, that if it is decided to charge the department with the !?J??,, renfc ancl ra te s w h ir -h amount to *l™ ' the " P resent credit balance of £5986 will be reduced to about £4500 by the end of the financial year." The statement of revenue and expenditure 7£Z' S that the total avenue for the 1908 period was £26,902 15s 2d, while for 1907 it was £25,643 2s lOd, an inrioase. of £1259 12s 4d. Notwithstanding these figures public lighting showed a decrease of £410 8s 6d. The total > VOl £i?n g cx P eiwes were £13,116 13s 9d an 1908 and £11,917 17s Jld in 1907— an increase of £1193 15s lOd. The gross r fc brought down in 1903 was £13786 la Sd, and £13,725 4S4 S lid in ISo7— an mciease of £60 16s 61