TRAMS AND BUSES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 191, 11 May 1944, Page 3

TRAMS AND BUSES

Wellington Corporation Services SUCCESSFUL OPERATING YEAR increases in practically all sections of the operalions of the Irani ways ami electricity department; for the year ended March 31 were shown in reports submitted to yesterday's meeting of the 'Wellington City Council by the general manager, Mr. L. B. Hutton. The tram and bus revenue and expenditure, with (he figures for the previous year in parentheses, were: —Revenue, £675,372 (£623,590), increase £51,782; working expenses, £462,381 (£433,053), increase £29,328; capital charges, £.159,624 (£158,141), increase £1483; special expenditure, £6572 (£8933)', _de_crease £2301; credit balance, £46,790 (£23,463), increase £23,332. "Last year 1 was able _to report an increase in revenue of £73,892._ _This year tile increase has dropped to £51,782,” said Mr. Hutton. "Most of the factors detailed in my report, last year still influence the figures, but we have been, to some extent, thrown more than last year on our internal sources for revenue. The number of visitors is now much reduced, and we cannot count on them very much in the year to come. The bus revenue has remained almost stationary, showing a small decrease of £2BO. This all means, in effect, that the buses cater for a regular clientele, and that the services now permitted to us are carrying capacity loads. "The capital charges are much as before. We were again able to make additional payments into the reserve fund and the renewal fund. The working expenses have increased, due to two main factors: first, greater cost of materials, and, secondly, the increased wage due to a full year’s operation of the modification order amendment of 1943.”

Electricity department revenue and expenditure, with the previous year’s figures iu parentheses, were:—Revenue, £498,689 (J 1464,479 increase £34,210; working expenses, £325,068 (£336.767), decrease £11,699; capital charges £133,032 (£101,377), increase £31,655; special expenditure. credit £1945 (£176,022), decrease £18,967; credit balance, £42,534 (£9313), increase £33,221. ‘An increase in units sold accounts for the major part of the increase in revenue,” Air. Hutton said. “Heavy demands were made on the council for camps, munition industries aud special quarters and buildings. Extra shifts and loug hours were worked in industry. Working expenses have dropped because of a further reduction in personnel find our consequent inability to do work which normally would be carried out. Capital charges have increased because we have paid into the reserve and renewal accounts the extra amounts allowed us under the Trading Act Amendment. Sale of old plant put the, special expenditure item in credit, but it would normally have been low iu any case.” ■