THE TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1921, Page 4

THE TRAMWAYS.

The result of the. working of the New Plymouth tramways for the last financial year must be gratifying to the citizens generally. The net profit shown ( £2855) does not accurately indicate the progress this beneficial enterprise has made during the year, yet it roughly registers an appreciable advance in prosperity. It will be noticed that in the previous year there was a deduction from the profits of £2300 for renewals, but no such deduction was made out of last year’s profits, so that had this provision been made the profits would have been nearly all absorbed. On the other hand, it was well that the gross revenue ( £18,355) amounted to nearly £5OOO more than in the preceding twelve months, when there was a deficit of £1626, for the working expenses increased by £2731. Not only was thia large increase met out of revenue, but, instead A a deficit last year, there was a profit of nearly £3OOO, which sum, however, takes no cognisance of the renewals fund, absorbing about £2300), which bears eloquent testimony to the constant use of the trams by the publie, although the fares have followed the example of the cost of living and gone up. The results reflect credit on the officers of the Council responsible for the working of this service, including the men engaged on the cars. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when the remaining environs of the borough will be served by the trams. Meanwhile the results obtained are quite satisfactory, while the proposed improvements should add to the earning power of the system.