BIG LOSS?

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 8

BIG LOSS?

TRANSPORT BOARD.

£22,000 A YEAR MENTIONED.

MEMBERS' DISCUSSION

REVENUE LESS THAN ESTIMATE.

An allegation that the Auckland Transport Board undertaking was losing the sum' of £22,000 for the year was made at this morning's meeting of the board by Mr. E.. H. Potter. His comment was made when a recommendation was ,brought down from committee to the effect that the various local bodies in the transport area should be given detailed facts and figures, (published in another column)-in regard to the undertaking.- ' . . .-'/•■ ■ '•■■ Mr. Potter said, referring to- the information that was to be supplied,-that the ; revenue was evea less . than the estimate of the. management,- which showed a decrease in revenue. A loss of £22,000 was anticipated, and the iocal bodies should know the real facts. As to the number of passengers carried, the report to be submitted to the local bodies was incorrect by some 10,000,000. The number of children carried and certain workers had not been included, and that mads? , the discrepancy. He moved that the board add to the report the actual number of passengers carried, including children, workers, etc. Mr. F. S. Morton seconded. "took to Brighter Side." Mr. E. P.helaiv pointed .put that the figures known to members covered the worst period of the year, 6ver which there certainly had. been a loss. They must look to the brighter side, when better weather., would be experienced. Nα statement should be made until a full twelve months' figures could be given. Mr. A. J. Entrican thought the local bodies should be in a position .to ask for further information if they required it. Mr. Potter pointed out that he had convened a meeting of local bodies in regard to the matter, and he wished it understood that he would have to make use of the facts as he knew them from his position as a member of the Transport Board. He would have to point out the discrepancy between the facts supplied and the actual position.. He hoped members of the board would not mind. "Not Covering Up Anything." ';; The chairman. (Mr. J. A. , C. xAllum). said there was no attempt to, coyer up, anything. If nil the details were given, , as to children, workers, etc., the statement would be complicated, and local bodies would nbt understand, the' position without much thought and'inquiry. The board was not attempting to give any opinion on.the flate rate fare. What information 'was given concerned the bulk of the passengers carried." >■ The bulk of the children would pay a little more and there ■ were others —from Onehunga for instance —who would pay a little less. Then there were special care to be considered, race traffic and ; other travellers which' would take an involved statement-to-elucidate.' .- Referring to the '/alleged. deficit • Mr. Allum said that., business; men : c knfw .that it \yas,,3iot wise to .teirth/e. shareholders what: ; the 1 position, wai for. •■a half-year's working, although the information would be conveyed to the-direct toratej and the board members were the directorate in this instance.' The board would see that £22,000 was not lost unless something untoward ' happened. He and the members -were appointed to see that there was'not a loss. "And that is what we will do," he added. ; '' Should Learn All the Facts. . . The management was at present investigating a number of suggestions to popularise the services. If there was to be a meeting of local bodies -ho would suggest that before they committed themselves they become conversant with the whole of the facts. Ho suggested a conference with the board. The board had nothing to hide. Whatever facts were asked for they would supply. The local bodies certainly had interested themselves in the question of the fiat rate and they were entitled to all information. The board had' a duty to run the concern in such a way that it would not be a burden on the ratepayers. "Loss £14,000 in August," Mr. Morton asked if it were not a' fact that the deficit was over £20,000. Tho chairman said there Avas no denying the fact of a difficult situation, but it had not been suggested that they were to finish up with a deficit of £22,000. '- Mr. Morton said the . local bodies should be informed thsCt the deficit on August 23 last was £14,000 odd. Those were the actual figures. The chairman said that if only a portion of tho year was considered a true perspective was not obtained. Figures were-always subject to adjustment when tho year's workings were under review. Too much emphasis could not be placed upon this. Mr. Potter: lam quite willing to take the 1928 balance-sheet and I am prepared to make use of that. Continuing, Mr! Potter said it was absolutely necessary to state the number of fares. They must have something to work on, and it was quite apparent that the- discrepancy was 10,000,000 fares. The motion was declared lost by the chairman, and tho report on which the disoussion hjnged will be forwarded to the local authorities.