TRAMWAY RETURNS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11978, 22 September 1906, Page 4

TRAMWAY RETURNS.

In cqmmenting the other day on the extraordinary patronage bestowed by the people of Auckland on the trams, we remarked that Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin afforded -equally strong proof of the manner in which the public support and up-to-date tram service. Last year in Auckland the total population, estimated at 70,000, was carried more than 280 times, the fares received being equal approximately to £1 14s per head of the men, women, and children in the community. Some figures published in the Post a few dayg ago relating to Wellington's tramway traffic show that the Empire City is not far behind Auckland in its appreciation of the modern means of locomotion. For the four-weekly period ending 4th September 1,200,577 tickets were issued, producing a revenue of £6673 19s 2Jd, an increase in the revenue over the same period last year of ,£1368 16s B\d. Saturdays furnished the heaviest traffic, and on those days nearly the total populalation .of "Greater Wellington" was carried—sß,329 on September -1, 58,094 on August 18, and 58,024 on August 25. The car miles run aggregated 134,391, the passengers per car mile averaged 8.89, the revenue was 11. 85 d, and the total operating costs 8.09 d. In Mr Walker's report to the Wanganui Borough Council on behalf of Mr Craig he estimated that an average of six passengers per car mile at one penny each could be relied on — a calculation considerably below the results obtained in Auckland, Wellington, and the other centres where electric trams, are installed. Six passengers per car mile in Wanganui would mean a revenue of £5252, as against Mr Walker's total estimated expenditure of £4915. An analysis of the Wellington and Auckland figures show that more than three-fourths of the total population of those cities travel daily, and Mr Bignell estimated that if only a quarter of Wanganui's population (2500) daily paid a I$S fare, this would give £15 12s 6d a day,

£93 15s a week, plus iLh on Sunday, or £5135 per 'year. No allow anoe was made either by Mr Walker or Mr Bignell for holiday and special traffic, consequently their estimates may be regarded as very moderate, and it would not be unreasonable to assume that they would be exceeded. It seems clear that a service costing not more than £35,000 would prove a profitable investment for the borough.