OPERATION OF BUSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 303, 18 November 1930, Page 2

OPERATION OF BUSES

HEAVY LOSS DISCLOSED. ATTITUDE "OF COUNCIL. Drawing attention to the heavy decrease in revenue from the municipal buses in October, the transit committee, at the meeting of the Palmerston North City Council last evening, expressed the opinion that the timetable on all routes should be restricted as much as possible. It therefore recommended that the traffic manager be instructed to bring down a report on such a proposal, embodying therein suggestions in the matter of reducing the running costs, etc., and that a special meeting of the committee he held ’on Monday, 21th inst., to consider the report and bring down recommendations for the council’s consideration.

“The month shows a decrease of 2999 passengers and £53 Is 7d in revenue, .as compared with the same period of last year,” reported the traffic manager (Mr P. G. Patton). “It will be noticed by the average revenue per bus mile that there is a considerable loss with the service. The month shows an operating loss of 7.98 d per bus mile, amounting to approximately £432 4s 6d over the month. With the seven light taxis recently licenced and running at a reduced rate and eight others charging the same fare, with a possibility of all the taxis coming into line, we must expect a further loss.” “These decreases in revenue have been practically continuous,” stated Cr Hodgens (chairman of the transit committee). “This month shows an operating loss of 7.98 d per mile, or £432. This is equivalent to a loss of over £SOOO in twelve months. The committee feels that it has reached the parting of the ways. Seeing that there was a lack of patronage accorded the buses we were perforco compelled to give consideration to closing down the service entirely, as actually proposed by one member of the committee, and stabling tlio buses in the barn with the prospect of selling the chassis. Eventualy, after mature consideration, it was decided that the traffic manager and myself should go into the question and bring down a report. The committee is unanimous in the feeling that we cannot carry on as at present. When it was a matter of a few hundred pounds the question of public utility carried weight, but now all operating loss of £SOOO a year is involved, it is quite another matter.” The Mayor: The public should bo warned that, unless there is a marked improvement in the patronage given the operation of the buses, the inevitable will happen. Cr Eliott commented that about twelve months ago he had advocated in a resolution that steps bo taken to eliminate the service altogether or to restrict operations in such a manner as to discontinue the service on the non-paying routes. The writing was clearly on the wall then that the position would later be forced upon the council. Returns were going down steadily and the revenue was lessening. They had reached the point where financial considerations now outweighed the matter of public utility. The council could not go on losing at the rate of £SOOO a year; the limit had been reached. The public had indicated that they did not want the service, or they would patronise it. The advent of a new and cheap type of motor transit had hastened the death-knell of the bus service. It was for the council to advise means to abandon the service altogether or carry on at a minimum of loss. It was certain that the service would have to be discontinued altogether if the loss was not reduced. However, there were certain proposals, which he was not at liberty to disclose, in the air and he believed an arrangement might be reached whereby tlierp could bo carried on a service which would not deprive the public of the means of transport. That would be welcome if a minimum of loss could be achieved.

The Mayor: The loss must be reduced. Cr Eliott stated that all would consider the matter with an open mind. Cr Clausen: It is fortunate that we have not gone in for a more expensive mode of transport. The Mayor: We are all agreed upon that.

“It heats me why the buses are not patronised more,” declared Cr Hansford. “We say that it is all the fault of the private car, but there must be some other reason at the back of it. I would like to see an expert come here to make recommendations with the view to staying the decrease in revenue and advancing suggestions for the improvement of the service.” Cr Fitzherbert: I think it is because of Palmerston North being a Hat place that every other person has a bicycle. Cr Hodgens said that the wet weather traffic figures showed that people patronised the buses more when it rained.

Cr Guy: I agree that we should get an expert. The Mayor: You would not object to the expense? Cr Guy: No, because it would save money in the end. Cr Hodgens stated that if an expert were engaged the first things he would say were that the buses were too big, cumbersome and uncomfortable, and should be dropped. The trouble was how to do it and how to replace them. “I don’t think all the experts in the world could devise a scheme suitifible to Palmerston North, so peculiarly as it is situated,” stated the Mayor. It had been suggested that the service should bo discontinued on the unpayable routes. It seemed to him that the time was coming when Palmerston North would have to depend for its traffic service on privato enterprise. Cr Eliott stated that even private enterprise appeared to be diffident ajiout tlie matter. The recommendation of the transit committee was adopted. Dealing with matters of duty, the council decided that drivers be informed that drastic action will be taken in cases of failure to stop the engine when the vehicle is stationary at the terminus of any route, and for failing to see that the petrol tanks are full before taking the bus from the barn.

Reporting upon the operation of the buses during October, the' traffic manager stated that 44,551 passengers were carried over a total mileage of 12,299. The revenue was £534 4s 9d and the revenue per bus mile 9.lGd. Passengers per bus mile were 3.42. Details of the various routes were as follow :

It was reported that a further communication had been received from Mr J. S. Winton in reference to liis former inquiry regarding the possibility of acquiring the bus service, and ad-

vising that the people on whose behalf the inquiry was made are not now prepared to proceed any further in the matter. It was resolved that the communication be received.

Total Total Revenue. Route. Pass. £ s d Hospital .. 14,517 187 10 11 Terrace End ... .. 12,901 162 17 0 Hokowhitu .. 5,264 57 16 8 West End .. 4,821 51 15 11 Taknro Park ... .. 4,705 49 1 6 Esplanade .. 2,343 25 2 9 Totals .. 44,551 £534 4 9