HIGHER REVENUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 7

HIGHER REVENUE

WANGANUI TRAMWAYS INCREASED EXPENDITURE MORE PASSENGERS CARRIED Total revenue earned by the Wanganui Corporation Tramways last year was £40,532, or £952 more than was estimated, and the total expenditure was £39,522, or £963 less than the estimated amount, reported the engineer ana manager (Mr. Row). “While tram and bus operating figures show greater revenue than was expected, this advantage is offset by operating costs being greater than anticipated,” Mr. Row added. ‘‘That the year closed with a credit balance is due largely to the non-arrival of stock materials estimated to cost £2480, actual expenditure on these materials being only £422.” The Tramways Account started the year with a credit balance of £270, anjl at the end of the year had a credit of £l2BO. “Revenue from tram fares was £34,547, being an increase of £714 over the previous year. Continued petrol rationing and the shortage of tyres and new vehicles are no doubt largely responsible for the maintenance of the high fare figures, but. Government and private building in the outer suburbs is also a contributing factor,” Mr. Row added. RECORD REVENUE The engineer submitted a graph which showed comparison in revenue from tram fares from 1929 onward. From then till 1936 revenue declined steadily till it was below £20,000 annually. After 1936, however, it began to increase, reaching a record level last year. “‘Due to increases in wages and cost of materials, the department has derived little financial advantage from the greater fare revenue,” Mr. Row added. “The annual cost of operating the trams over the past ten years was: 1936-37, £21,288; 1937-38, £21,910; 1938-39, £22,026; 1939-40, £22,281; 1940-41, £22,530; 1941-42, £23,218; 1942-43, £24,067; 1943-44, £26,705; 1944-45, £28,602; 1945-46, £33,564 “Receipts from tram advertising last year totalled £853, which is £B4 more than the previous year.” Revenue from bus fares was £l4l mors than the previous year, but increased cost of operation resulted in a loss of £333. Mr. Row submitted a chart, for the past 12 years which showed how costs of operation had more than kept pace with increased revenue. With the exception of 1943 there had been a substantial annual loss on operating the service during the past ten years, he added. Reporting on the Durie Hill Elevator, Mr. Row stated that receipts from fares showed a further increase of £284 and operating expenses were £33 more than the previous year. The Profit on the year’s operations was £293. PASSENGER STATISTICS The total number of passenger rides for the year over the combined tram, bus and elevator services was 3,328,455 made up as follows: Trams: Aramoho route, 973,869; Wanganui East route, 738,235; Gon-ville-Castlecliff routes, 1,162,935; special trams, 20,669; total tram rides, 2,895,708. Buses: St. John’s Hill route, 203,066; special buses, 1,645; total bus rides, 204,711. Elevator: Total rides, 228,036. The total passenger rides for previous year was 3,256,771. The total distance travelled bv all vehicles during the year was 435,510 miles, made up as follows:—Trams, 406,643 miles; trailers, 104 miles; buses, 28,763 miles.

The average gross revenue over all routes was 21.4 pence per tram mile and 21.1 pence per bus mile, compared with 21.1 pence and 19.2 pence respectively In the previous year. TRACKS DEETERIORATING “The general condition of the permanent way had deteriorated during the war years and this was accentuated by, the prolonged dry weather in mid-summer,” Mr Row stated. “Extra staff has now been engaged in an effort to raise the maintenance stan- | dard, but, as most of the track is nearing the end of its life, we can only hope to hold it in moderately fair order from now on.

“There were twenty-eight tram derailments during the year, most of which were caused by defects in the permanent way. Flanges of rails are becoming so thin that large pieces are constantly breaking off. “The permanent-way gang spent most of the year on isolated short lengths of track where trdubles developed, as it was difficult, to concentrate for long on any major comprehensive work.

“A special report on the city’s passenger transport system was submitted to the council in November. The recommendations contained in the report were adopted and instructions given to obtain quotations for omnibus chassis as the first step in changing over from trams to a more modern system.

“Preliminary enquires have disclosed that few firms are yet in a position to give satisfactory quotations, and it is proposed to delay calling quotations for a few months until more firms have changed over to peace-time production and normal trading. The engineer’s report dealt with practically all phases of tramway operations in Wanganui last year and contained much statistical information.