WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1921, Page 6

WELLINGTON TRAMWAYS.

THE MOUNTING COSTS By Tel«rrai>h.—Press Association. Wellington, Jan. I In the steady advance in working expenses revealed by the latest returns supplied by the Wellington municipal tramway department, wages of motormen and conductors show a substantial increase which will be added to still further by payment of the additional 3s bonus. The return shows the increase for 36 weeks from April 1 'till December 8 in wages for motormen and conductors to be £26,247 and coal £11,779. The actual increase in working expenses this year compared with last year is £58,890. Only in regard to minor items were decreases shown. These amounted to £2964. For the four weeks ended December 8 the revenue showed an increase of £5539, but the working expenses increased by £7611. The balance for the month’s working showed a debit of £360. The percentage of working expenses to revenue has now reached the high figure of eighty-sXen. A year ago it was seventy-three. One pleasing feature in the return is that showing an increase of 182.559 in the number of passengers carried. The number of car miles run increased by 2993. The power supply and track lighting for the above mentioned 36 weeks also shows the expenditure is increasing at a greater rate than the revenue. As compared with last year the increase was £4'559. The working expenses increased by £7938. This shows a debit balance this year of £2508, against a credit last year of £1426.