“THE SCARLET FLEET”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19478, 24 December 1925, Page 10

“THE SCARLET FLEET”

BUS REVENUE SINCE AUGUST POPULAR AND PROFITABLE SERVICES. The City Council’s action in purchasing three buses of the Vulcan ‘ type in August for the purpose of providing reasonable transport facilities for the suburbs, was a step in the right direction, and one that has been fully justified by the returns in succeeding months. As a result of the Tramway Department’s efforts, private enterprise and competition and exhorbitant fares have been entirely eliminated, and seasonably cheap services have been inaugurated that tap areas that previously contribute! little, if anything, to the tramway revenue.

The patronage accorded the venture has, right from the inception, been ex- 1 ceedingly gratifying, and the demands for extensions of the existing services have become pressing. The initial run was made on August 10, St. John’s Hill and the Post Office being the terminal points, tho route followed taking passengers via Springvale. Frequently two buses have to be employed to adequately cater for passengers to and from tho Hill, and, while the department has had to fully maintain this lucrative trip, they have also made extensions of the service to Smithfield and No. 3 Line. Owing to the limited number of buses available, the latter service has not been made a full-time one, but it is no doubt an augury of better things as the Tramway Department is desirous of providing efficient transport for as many citizens as possible, and exploiting all the available routes. An Extra Bus Ordered. The necessity for securing stand-by buses is fully realised, and only recently an order was placed for the purchase of another bus of similar design to those at present in use, and, when tho new vehicle arrives, ample provision will have been made in this respect. The buses have been splendidly supported, and the revenue exceeds expectations. The August return for twenty-one days only amounted to £l6l Is 9d, while the following month the figure was increased to £249 8s 84. Tn October £314 9s lid was collected bv wav of bus fares, while last month

again a further increase was disclosed, the takings aggregating £350 8s sd. For tho twenty-two days of tho present month, the revenue has amounted to £256 15s 3d .and, with the holiday and busy season ahead, it is anticipated that, the return will prove a record. Tho buses have certainly provided a long felt want in tho city and are proving themselves to be decided acquisitions. Tho energetic Tramways Comittce are to be heartily congratulated on tho manner in which they have tackled the problem of providing adequate and efficient transport for suburban residents.