Napier

New Zealand Tablet, 27 November 1913, Page 11

Napier

(From an occasional correspondent.) November 14. Our municipal enterprises are evidently going - to be profitable concerns. The Municipal Theatre, which has been opened twelve months, has given a return of £I4OO odd. It was estimated that the revenue for the first year would be £IOOO, and the amount required per annum to make it pay is £ISOO, so that the deficiency to be made up is very small for the first year. The trams have been much more successful; they have only been running two months, and the revenue amounts to £I3OO. The amount required each week to pay expenses, and interest on loans is £l2O, whilst the weekly takings have not been below £l5O per week. The cars have all been required in service, with none as a standby, and the overloading has been excessive. The traffic manager (Mr. Callaghan) has asked the City Council for two more cars of a larger type. The support of the people has exceeded all expectations.. The Council is also at the present time proposing to ask the ratepayers to sanction a loan to extend the trams, and, judging from the popularity of the proposal, a poll when taken should be almost unanimous.