TRAMWAYS FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 29, 29 October 1920, Page 8

TRAMWAYS FINANCE

A DISCOURAGING OUTLOOK,

In speaking to the Tramways Committees repoit On the returns for the last 28, w'jeks, a member, of the City Council last night said that the-figures were distinctly disappointing, and he pointed out a lessened return in the number of passengers carried, as against an increased mileage. The Mayor said that since the farei had been increased they hud experienced week after week of bad weather. Ha also pointed out that in Huddersfield, Glasgow, Sheffield, Belfast, and 3 Leeds the tramway systems had experienced queer times, and .almost without exception the minimum fares had gone up to 2d., whilst the working expenses had leaped up. The system herb was getting old, as could lie seen by the army of men who were employed in patching up the permanent ivav. - Councillor Chapman questioned whether certain overliead charges were fair charges against the tramways. Councillor Forsyth pointed out that the tramways at rush hours were carrying as many people as they could, so how could it bo said that if the fares were lower the traffic would 'be greater. They all knew that owing to the increased wages and cost of maintenance they were "sliding," nnd thero was no way out but to increase the fares. Councillor M'Kenzie said what they were, looking for was for'some improvement. It was no argument to • quote what was happening in England. The fares were now up to th,'> limit, and they could not go much further. ■ The Mayor detailed the increases m expenditure which had been ltcorded in the last 28 weeks to account for the present state of the tramways undertaking, 'the position was that they had increased the one-section fare by 100 per cent., the two-section fare by 50 per cent, and the thref-section fare 33 per cent. There was no increase in the long journeys because the council desired to treat tUo people who lived a long way out as liberally as possible. Councillor Shorland askfd that the Tramway Manager be requested to i make a statement regarding the prosnects of thv> tramway service. The Mayor promised to do so later.

NEW CTJCTED AT POWER-HOUSE-

The Tramways Committee reported, m follows:—"New machinery lias been ana is being installed in the tramways P°we' station which will greatly add to the efficiency of the station. A 1000 h.p. boiler has been erected, mid is iu»\ in use.' An additional boiler (SflO h.p.), now , on order, is expected to al . nve , ll, ' o " t , end of the year The ° f this boiler are well in hand. A 1000 h.p. mixed-pressure turbine is, now almost Tcady. This will give, when working with exhaust steam, about 500. k.w. extra, and will also result in considerable economy in consumption of coal. A 30? k w engine set is bem? transferred from the lighting station to the- tramways station, and this set will work in eonjunction with the new turbine. Tho switchboard for .the above macdnnerv « completed. The installation of this plant will assure much improved wovkinß conditions next year. Six new car.s will ba . available before Christmas, and a Wither 12 cars before July next.