SURVEY OF YEAR’S WORK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 8

SURVEY OF YEAR’S WORK

CITY’S DEBT STILL FALLING

GAS DEPARTMENT FIGURES SATISFACTORY TRAMWAYS CONTINUE TO HOLD THEIR OWN RELIEF OF UNEMPLOYMENT A BIG PROBLEM Another year of civic management of the City of Wanganui closed on March 31, since when executive officers radiating from the town clerk and city engineer have prepared reports covering the 12 months retrospective to April 1, 1934. There is much, to interest ratepayers, in particular, and citizens generally, in the information disclosed. The total rate levy on the city imposed to cover the year was £88,386, of which £77,514 7s lOd (excluding harbour rate and allowing for £1045 8s 6d discount) was collected. Since the year 1928-29 the rate levy on the city has fallen, as shown by the following table:— 1928- £121,195 1929- 119,547 1930- 115.717 1931- 107,517 1932- 107.401 1933- 96.735 1934- 90.711 1935- 88,386 Sinking funds continue to operate freely and thus reduce the city’s indebtedness. A very satisfactory' year has been experienced by the eity gas department, while the tramways undertaking is holding its own in relation to working expenses and has contributed a sum towards interest on capital. Administration of relief of unemployment, which falls heavily on the city's staff, has increased its demands during the year, a large sum in State subsidies having to be expended.

GAS DEPARTMENT SALES OF GAS INCREASE FIRST TIME FOR SOME YEARS A SATISFACTORY POSITION The city’s corporation gas undertaking continues to show satisfactory results, and the feature of the reports on the past year is the in crease in the return from the sales of gas, which show an impoveinent to the extent of £721 16s Id over that for the year before. •‘The fact that this is the first lime for several years that an impiovement has been recorded, confirms my opinion that the fall io revenue has been arrested, especially as it was only in ibe latter months of last year that any advancement was shown, and so far this year the improvement has continued.’’ states the manager of the department (Mr. J. Stone) in his annual report. “It must be understood, however, that the standard of the peak years in the demand for gas has not been reached, but if the rate of progress •ontinues, the former records should be artained within the next two vears. I refer only to the quantity of gas sold revenue is another matter, and it will be some time before the previous records are reached, rhe comparative prices of gas being an important factor. During the years of the highest revenue, the price of gas to the con sumer was 8s 6d per 1000 cubic feei whereas at present the maximum is 7s, I his being the price for the single 1000 cubic feet; a reducing scale then operates and gas is sold as low as 4s per TWO cubic feet—a big difference when compared with former rates. •‘Coke sales show a slight decrease on last year, this variation being accounted for by the extra consumption of this product at ihe works. This was due to the bringing of a repaired setting of retorts into action in order that une which had been in operation for several years could be re conditioned «-oke being the fuel that was used to do all the heating. ’•'far also shows a reduced revenue, the quantity of tar sold not reaching last year’s figures. At the last moment a reasonably large order was cancelled. Also a. road surface which was to have been treated was hardlv ready, but I understand the work is to be proceeded with next summer, so this will come into the current year s receipts. I have examined the prospective sales of tar for next year, and they appear to be very promising. ‘‘Fittings sales (fires and applienves) have been well maintained, and with the many conveniences attached to them, and with their attractive designs and bright colour schemes, the up-to-date appliances will continue to increase in popularity. The desire of the public is “quick service with convenience.” and gas is recognised as a most capable servant in fulfilling these re qui remen ts. “Gas is so readily adaptable to the modern day requirements that one cannot help but realise that the future holds great possibilities for it as the most versatile and economical medium of artificial heating. Such progress has been made through research work in the development of the gas fire, that it now serves a two-fold purpose—besides heating, it has a very beneficial effect on many ailments from which humanity is suffering. * f Ga« cooker returns compare very favourably with those of last vear. With its ‘regulo’ oven heat control, the modern cooker has Indeed been developed by science into a most dependable automatic appliance. It has been so modernised in appearance and in function, that from the number we have installed and continue to install, it must be regarded as the ‘ideal’ cooker.

TRAMWAYS ACCOUNT WORKING SHOWS A CREDIT CONTRIBUTION TO INTEREST I FALL IN REVENUE FROM FARES. j The salient features of the reports on the tramways, one from the town I clerk. (Mr. George Murch) and the other from the engineer and manager t (Mr. L. F. Row) show that, despite the I tendency of the revenue from fares I still showing a downward trend, the ■ undertaking has been able to show a slight excess of income over expenditure after allowing for £ll5O towards interests on loans, it will be recollected that the unsatisfactory nature of the tramways account gave rise to alarm some years ago, and as an outcome of an investigation the one-man tram system was brought into vogue. Since then the finances have held their own, and ihe tramways have been able to make contributions towards interest ' on capital, which had not been possible Jin t he past. “At ibe commencement of Ihe year ihe credit balance in this account was £675 9s 5d,” Mr. Murch states. ‘‘The total revenue amounted io £22,358 0s Id and rhe expenditure (including £1.150 transferred to the interest account', to £22,407 3s 2d. the available balance at the end of the year being £626 6s 4d.” Details of the revenue and expenditure were shown thus:

Tram Fare Falling. Mr. Row submitted a chart indicating that the fall in revenue from train fares was fairly steep from 1926-27 ro 1933-34, since when the downward trend has become less noticeable. “It* will be noticed that in this period ' (1926-27 to 1935-36) the receipts have dropped to approximately half of their original value,’’ he states, ‘‘but the curve appears to be approaching the bottom of the depression. In the coming year it will be necessary to estimate on a further slight' fall in revenue. 71 J The graph tabled by Mr. Row showed that receipts from fares rose to a level close to the £40,000 mark in the year 1926-27. It had fallen to below £35/00 by 1928-29, and two years later was down to £25,000. It was at the £20,000 level in 1933-34 and has slightly fallen below that in the immediate past two years. Bus Fares. “Receipts from bus fares have remained fairly constant and a-re just,

Revenue. £. 8. d. Tram fares Jy.+‘j2 Bus fates J ,556 1 10 Sale of D. C. Power .. 159 12 9 Carriage of mails and papers 130 4 3 Advertising . 281 11 6 Private work and sates . 533 3 3 Sundries 102 6 11 Stock excess 102 16 2 £23.033 9 6 Expenditure Tram wavs: £. s. d. Power supplv . . . . . 3.044 4 0 Traffic expenses ,, . . 7.288 4 5 Administration .. .. 933 1 1 General expenses . . . 361 10 2 Repairs and maintenance G.671 9 6 Renewals and special work. 1.176. 15 9 Private work 212 14 9 Benzine and oil stocks 39 17 1 Buses: Benzine and oils . . . . 394 8 7 Traffic expenses .. ., 788 14 7 A dministration 80 10 0 Repairs and maintenance °39 12 5 General expenses . . .. 26 0 10 Transfer to interest account 1,150 o o £22,407 3 2 Credit ha aiu e 1.935 .. £ . 675 s. d. 9 5 Credit balance 1936 . . . 626 6 4