TRAM SERVICES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8190, 3 August 1912, Page 1

TRAM SERVICES

INTERESTING COMP ARISONS PKESS ’association.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. The attention of the General Manager of the Christchurch Tramways was drawn to.a statement that, whereit cost the ■ Dunedin ; tramways £57 13s to. earn ■£ 100, in Christchurch the costs were £69 Is, and in Wellington ' £72 7s.

Mr Thompson eaid the figures were correct, but that* when comparisons were made with the previous. year it would be seen that, whereas the cost in Dunedin had risen from • £53 6s Ito £57 .13s, that in Christchurch had decreased slightly, from £6O 9s to £59 Xfi. There had always been keen but very desirable competition between Dunedin and Christchurch, so far : as economy in administration' was concerned. ‘ f

There were, . however, unavoidable disturbing factors at work which rendered a close comparison impossible. For instance, although comparatively a greater number of people travelled in Dunedin on concession tickets than in Christchurch, the concessions given were not so liberal. On a penny a mile basis the highest discount given in Dunedin was 33 per cent., whereas in Christchurch the highest discount given is 62 per cent. This had a considerable bearing on the comparison between the two cities.' On a percentage of expenses to receipts basis he noted that Dunedin expected a still further increase in working expenses for the current year, owing to an increase in wages, and the tramways authorities. were considering the question of reducing the faro concessions. The increase in expenses in Christchurch was also unavoidable.

Another interesting comparison was the number of passengers per car mile. The figures were: Wellington 11.01, Dunedin 10.39, Christchurch 6.80. In other words, Christchurch provided an average of 34 per cent, more car room for its passengers than its heaviest rival, but this threw an interesting sidelight on _ complaints sometimes heard of the infrequent tram service in Christchurch, as compared witJ other places, and on the overcrowding problem, which is said to exist here.