FALLING TRAM REVENUE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1931, Page 9

FALLING TRAM REVENUE

THE DECREASE WORLD WIDE

WELLINGTON MANAGER’S VIEWS.

PROBLEMS NEEDING SOLUTION.

The falling of tramway and bus revenue throughout the Dominion iccently led the New Plymouth Borough Council to suggest a conference at Wellington of all the authorities concerned s. °that a full inquiry might be made into matters affecting publicly-owned undertakings. Replies from local authorities concerned were received by the council last night, most of them favouring a conference later in the year. The matter was referred to the electric light and tramways committee. Stating that he would be pleased to act as convenor should a conference be decided on, the general manager of the Wellington tramways (Mr. M. Cable) wrote pointing out that the fall in revenue was not confined to the Dominion. but was the experience of transport undertakings in all parts of the world, particularly those operating on rails. The decline had undoubtedly been accentuated by the prevailing world-wide depression. The fall in revenue from rail systems was accepted in many quarters as an indication that rail operation was finding disfavour and becoming obsolete, ami in many instances this view had been encouraged by the authorities neglecting to modernise their equipment and permitting track and rolling stock to get into a bad state of repair. Although the position facing the smaller concerns in New Zealand at present was exceedingly difficult, he believed that with careful administration and by makino- an effort to meet the changing conditions they would be able to con-, tfnue giving, service for some years to come at any rate. PESSIMISM NOT WANTED. If a conference were decided on the authorities concerned must be careful not to give the impression to the public that they were taking a pessimistic outlook for the future of their concerns, but should strike a note of determination to face their problems and make whatever adjustments were necessary in their methods of operation to enable them to carry on without assistance from rates. He suggested, however, that a conference should not be held until after the new councils took office; probably early in June would be the most suitable time.

The Wanganui City Council wrote supporting the holding of a conference and suggesting Mr. Cable should convene it, but it considered the best time to hold the meeting would be after the close of the financial .year. A later message from Wellington suggested that further consideration of the proposal should be deferred, until the Wellington tramways committee met to-morrow.

The Timaru borough- omnibus committee telegraphed that it had decided not to send a delegate to the conference.

It was reported tliat the Auckland Transport Board had notified it would take part in the conference and that the Invercargill Borough Council had suggested the meeting should be held c March 28 when a representative of the council would be in Wellington. Messrs. R. J. Pentecost and G. J. Wyatt (tramways manager) were appointed to represent the council at the conference should one be held,

Reporting on the February returns from the trams in New Plymouth, the manager (Mr. G. J. Wyatt) said the revenue-of £1505 showed .a decrease of £284 compared with the corresponding period last year. A. decrease of 11,342 was apparent in the . return of 160,754 passengers. He pointed out, however, that February, 1930, was. an exceptionally good month Giving to the number of country picnics visiting the beaches. This year there had not been so many. The buses earned £224 13s 3d from 24.014 passengers, representing decreases of £49 17s 8d and 2011 passengers. The bus returns had been specially affected by the reduced patronage of observation trips and special picnics. Details given by Mr, Wyatt were:— Port-Fitzroy route: Mileage, 15,619; passengers, 136,241; fares, £1193 19s Id. Pukekura Park-Westown: Mileage, 6674; passengers, 33,513; fares, £3ll 5s 7d. The buses travelled 5330 miles.