AUCKLAND TRANSPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 245, 16 October 1931, Page 5

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT

BOARD’S DEFICIT OF £18,500 WORK MAY BE RATIONED . NO ALTERATION IN FARES AUCKLAND, Oct. 14. The rationing of employment by the Auckland Transport Board is imminent, according to information gathered yesterday after a committee meeting of the board, at which the financial position of the undertaking was further discussed. Although no official announcement has been made, it was learned that the manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, has presented a statement to the board showing that at the end of the financial year on March 31 next there will bo a deficit of approximately £18,500, even after drastic steps have been taken to effect economies to meet the shrinkage in revenue. When asked last evening to make a statement, on the present financial position of the board, the chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, declined to comment other than to confirm tho anticipated deficit. He gave an assurance that the board at present contemplated no alteration in the price of concession tickets or in

the scale of cash fares. There was no likelihood of wholesale dismissals or other than a minor curtailment of services. Rationing Instead of Dismissals. “In the present circumstances no one can forecast with any degree of aceur acy what is going t< take place,” said Mr. Allum. “While it is obvious that to meet the situation there will ne a ■ reduction in the amount of work the board can offer, 1 can say that the board definitely wishes that ratio.iing shall take place instead of dismissals from the service.” Air. Ford recently brought down a new estimate of the probable revenue anil expenditure for tho current year, based on revenue from existing cash fares and the reduced concession ticket rates which have been in operation since August 3- The expenditure was based on the reduction in salaries and wages from July 4 in accordance with the partial cut which was made by the board and which came into force on that date. Mr. Ford estimated that traffic receipts would total £606,149 at the end of March, as compared with £647,797 for last financial year, a shrinkage of £41,648. Revenue from all sources was estimated to reach £617.177 as against £660,643, a decline of £43,466. On tho expenditure side Mr. Ford budgeted for disbursements aggregating 1

£635.873, as compared with £659,748 during the previous year. The net result or the manager’s forecast is, therefore, a deficit of £18,696. It is believed, however, that a turther amended estimate has been prepared by Mr. Ford and sill initted to the board.’ It is understood to contain a detai.ed statement of tho effect of the policy of rationing which the board w.d shortly put into operation.