TRAMWAY RATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20277, 11 April 1934, Page 5

TRAMWAY RATE.

Will be Avoided If Possible, Says Mr Archer. DIFFICULTIES OF BOARD. An assurance that if a tramway rate could possibly be avoided, it would not be adopted, but that he would vote with an entirely free conscience in the matter, was given by the chairman of the Tramway Board (the Rev J. K. Archer) in an address on tramway affairs to members of "the Spreydon Burgesses’ Association last evening. Mr J. Skelton presided. In outlining the reasons for the present financial deficiency with which the board was faced, Mr Archer stated that the present board could not be altogether blamed. It was estimated that there were approximately 60.000 cycles in Christchurch, more than double the number in any other town in New Zealand. These facts naturally affected very considerably the tramway revenue in the city. Decrease in Passengers. As soon as a good road was completed in the city a distinct falling off in the tram passengers could be noticed. Another difficulty was the state of unrest which existed among the tramway employees at present, arising from the strike. The board was doing its best to overcome this difficulty, but as long as this state of affairs existed 100 per cent efficiency could not be expected from the staff. In putting forward contentions that would justify striking a rate, Mr Archer said that all roads in the city on which tramway tracks had been laid had been financed to a large extent by the Tramway Board, yet nonusers of the trams were able to take advantage of these roads. A percentage of motor taxation was annually granted to various local bodies in New Zealand, but the Christchurch Tramway Board received no such remuneration from the Government.

There was no doubt that when tram* way tracks were laid the price of property in such a district automatically increased, an advantage which could be enjoyed only by private propertyowners, and not by the Tramway Board. Benefit to Business. Shopkeepers in the central area of the city directly benefited by the tramway facilities offered for customers, and should not be unwilling to contribute something for the advantage they enjoyed, although residents of the central city area could not be altogether placed in a similar category. . In dealing with the present financial position of the tramways, Mr Archer stated that during the tramway year ending in March 31 last a deficit of approximately £20,000 was shown. The present board, however, had been in office only for a portion of that year. The previous Tramway Boards had met deficiencies by transferring amounts which had accumulated from the different tramway funds, hence all the surplus moneys had been spent, and there was no chance of adopting such a procedure this year. The new board found itself in a position different from any previous boards. It was now regarded as a public body, and as such by Act of Parliament could not run into debt, but must live within its income, said Mr Archer. This fact was proving a serious problem to the board, and schemes for increasing the tramway revenue were being thoroughly gone into. Mr Archer said that, should a rate be levied, it would be approximately in the proportion of 80 per cent over the central city area and 20 per cent over the suburban area.

At the conclusion of his address, Mr Archer answered several questions regarding tramway matters, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to him, on the motion of the chairman, for his instructive and interesting address.