TRAMWAY BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 925, 21 November 1933, Page 6

TRAMWAY BOARD.

Mr A. A. M ’Lachlan Opens Campaign. PAST TERM REVIEWED. Opening his campaign in the Christchurch Tramway Board election, Mr A. A. M’Lachlan, who is the present representative for the Riecarton-Fen-dalton sub-district on the board and who is standing as an Independent this year, addressed householders at St Barnabas schoolroom, Fendalton, last evening. Mr M’Lachlan .explained the decline in tramway revenue during the term of office of the present board as a result of the depression. Mr J. Murphy presided over a good attendance. Messrs G. T. Booth, E. H. Andrews and W. Hayward, members of the board for the Central sub-district, were present and addressed the meeting briefly. Mr M’Lachlan said that his term of three years was probably the most arduous period in the history of the board. Unfortunately the term of the present board had synchronised with a period of acute depression and the revenue had gone on declining notwithstanding the libera! reductions which the board had given tram users. In the past nine months there had been an increase of 60,000 in the number of passengers and at the same time there had been a further decline in revenue. His experience had shown him that it was not possible to increase wages, improve the service, reduce fares, and at the same time increase the revenue. Regarding the tramway strike, Mr "M’Lachlan said that he would not refer to it but for the fact that it was made a strong point by the candidates of the other side, who were so certain of success that he had heard yrhile in North Canterbury that some of the men who had lost their jobs as a result of the strike were already preparing to

Regarding the tramway strike, Mr "M’Lachlan said that he would not refer to it but for the fact that it was made a strong point by the candidates of the other side, who were so certain of success that he had heard yrhile in North Canterbury that some of the men who had lost their jobs as a result of the strike were already preparing to go back into the board’s service. The board had dealt with the strike in a humane and, consistent with its duty to the public, very businesslike and rational way, and the harmony existing on the whole staff had never been exceeded at any time in the history of the board.

Considering the difficulties that had to be contended with in Christchurch, * - ------

it was perhaps surprising how the board had got along without having to strike a rate. The fact that no rate had been struck was due to the excellent work of the board in days gone by and not a little to the sterling efforts of Mr Frank Thompson, the general manager, and his staff.

Comparison with Other Cities. Christchurch had 48 miles 58 chains of route. Auckland 46 miles 30 chains, Dunedin 17 miles 72 chains, and Wellington 30 miles 60 chains. The passengers per car mile were: Auckland 8.18. Wellington 9.27, Dunedin 11.02, Brisbane (Australia) 10.96 and Christchurch 6.79. During the past two years there had been a decrease in revenue and, he regretted to say. substantial losses. The loans conversion scheme would result in a saving of £11,300, which would go a long way in mitigating the loss of revenue; 1927 was somewhat of a peak year for the Christchurch tramways and it was interesting to compare the figures for that year with these of the past year. The revenue in 1927 and last year in the main centres and Brisbane was as follows:

£ £ £ Auckland .. 637,782 534,263 103,519 Wellington . 453,683 364,896 88,792 _ Dunedin .. 203,522 163,438 39,084 * Christchurch . 290,658 203,474 87,184 Brisbane .. 829,630 683,413 146,217 On the motion erf Mr H. F. Willis a vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously accorded Mr M’Lachlan. Kkcutaa Meetings.

There were good attendances at two meetings in Riccarton addressed by Mr G. T. Thurston. The candidate dealt with the question of falling revenue and the- Tramway Board’s method erf dealing with revenue accounts. Mr W. Cole presided at the meetings, which were held at the Bush Inn Corner and Coach Comer. At the conclusion of each meeting, Mr Thurston answered a number erf questions regarding xhe tram services. He was accorded votes of thanks and confidence. Socialist' Campaign. Meetings which were, to have been addressed by "Socialist candidates for the Christchurch Tramway Board at the Waltham and Addipgton Schools were both abandoned ' for lack of audiences. At Addington four people arrived to hear Mr F. H. Grant, candidate for the AddingtonS prey don sub-district. After waiting for half an hour, Mr Grant abandoned the meeting. Messrs H. Brinkley and, L. F. Warburton, candidates for the Central sub-district, waited at , the Waltham School until half-past eight for an audience that ,did not arrive. Both meetings will be held later. H3k-Sumner District. Mr W. J. Sim, candidate for the HitlsSumner seat, addressed about fifty electors at Mount Pleasant last night. Mr A. G. Williams presided. Mr. Sim announced himself as an independent

candidate. He commended the board on their loan conversion. He spoke in favour of increasing the tram service. Mr Sim was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.