THE TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1918, Page 4

THE TRAMWAYS.

It was hardly to be expected that the tramways would pay their way in the second year of their installation, in times like the present, and so when we are told by the Town Clerk that there is a substantial loss on the year's working no surprise will be occasioned. It is his duty to set out the figures in their worst light from an accountant's point of view. It is satisfactory to nete that the takings have increased by £757, equal to eight per cent., but it is not quite so satisfactory to find that werking expenses increased by 18 per cent, or £1249. This is accounted for by general repairs and maintenance, which increased from £512 to £1313. The engineer, in his report, explains that the department was called upon to meet an.expenditure of £520 in connection with the repairing of the road adjacent to the track. In other words, the Tramways Department is defraying a 'portion of the upkeep of the main street of the town. The tramways, too, are paying £1561 to the electric light for current, so that whilst the balance-sheet shows a loss 6f £4295 on the year's working, these two items alone account for about half of the amount. Then depreciation figures at £B7O, and renewals £2301. The Town Clerk discusses the possibility of reducing the annual loss, and suggests that the Morley street extension might be closed down until the return of normal conditions. This section must always be a white elephant until the line is taken to the top of Westown, and really should have been included in the scheme. The car now used on the section could more profitably be employed on the main service. As for reducing the cost of working in other directions, that seems impossible, in the light of the report of the engineer, who has shown himself to be an efficient and reliable officer. He shows that all materials required for keeping the service in an efficient state have increased from 80 to 100 per cent., whilst labor also is increasing. We have to recognise that times are abnormal, and we must expect not a decrease but an increase in the cost of working. There is reason to believe that, despite the fact that the town has over a thousand men at the front, and the elimination of special trains and excursion fares, the returns will continue to increase and so set off the rising expenditure. Katepayers have to take a broad view of the position and say whether the indirect advantages from the installation of the tramways do not compensate for any financial loss incurred. There will be general agreement that the service has more than justified itself, and that with a return of normal conditions there is every hope of it paying its own way. Meantime the small rate necessary will not be begrudged for a service that has obviously conferred considerable benefits > upon, the town.