NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1930, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH TRAMWAYS.

The report on June operations made by I the tramways - manager to the New ; Plymouth Borough Council is diothietly i disappointing. The reduction in fares j lias not resulted in greater patronage, I and the revenue continues to fall. A I- temporary dhnunition in fares would not have been so serious had the number of passengers carried been on the up-grade. Instead of an increase passenger traffic showed a decrease of over £2OO in revenue for the month, and nearly 1000 passengers fewer per day were carried than in June last year. It is true that the reduction in fares has been in operation during the winter months only, and that during June there were some unpleasant week-ends so far as weather was concerned. Nev--1 ertheless it cannot be ignored that the hoped for increase in patronage as the result of the cheaper fares has not eventuated, and the tramways system is not paying its way. The council proposes to review the situation at its next meeting, and there is need for urgency in the matter. Those responsible to the ratepayers will then know what the cost of lowering the fares has been and will have to decide whether the experiment shall be continued. There is something to be said for a longer trial extending into the summer months, and in this connection the charges made against the tramways for the supply of current might also be reviewed. If it is desired to give cheap tram fares a trial for six months such questions as the cost of current and the possibility of reducing working expenses must necessarily be explored. Whether increased publicity would attract passengers is another matter that is worth consideration, for very little has been done in this direction so far. Admitting that the main cause of the drop in revenue is the competition of the motor, there still should be room for tramways in the general transport services of the larger towns. Like other businesses they must accommodate themselves to changed conditions and fresh competition. The potential passenger must be shown that it is often personal economy to use the trams, and that unless the community gives its own transport system real and practical support ratepayers will have losses to make good. It is not always easy to educate the public, but there seems to have been little effort in this direction in New Plymouth. It would certainly be worth trying, and might obviate the confession of failure that a return (o higher faree would mean.