THE TRAMWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1922, Page 4

THE TRAMWAYS.

DECREASED RETURNS. DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL. The number of passengers carried on the New Plymouth trams last week showed a decrease of 5233 as compared with the corresponding period last year, the revenue fall being £52 Rs 9d. The figures for the same period in 1921 were 36,169 passengers representing £377 4s 7d in revenue. The detailfl for last week are:— Passengers Revenue

The matter of the decrease in the number of passengers carried and the consequent decrease in revenue was raised by Cr. J. Kibby at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. He asked if the tramways manager was taking any steps to meet the loss.

The borough manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) said the remedy was to reduce the working expenses, and these had been cut down. The engineer had recommended the introduction of the one-man cars with longer sections, so as to popularise the service with long-distance passengers. Cr. J. Brown thought the loss was on the first section, and suggested the council should go back to the penny fares for a month or two, to see if that would make any difference. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) said that the increase in the fares had been made because of the losses the council had been making on the penny fares. The reason for the fall in revenue was that the people had not now so much money for travelling. Cr. R. A. Large pointed out that the council was not making a loss on the tramways, while Cr. R. L. Parkin said that the closing down of the freezing at Waiwakaiho had made a big difference in their revenue.

The tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) said that the traffic at this time last year was phenomenal. There was no freezing works traffic this year, while at the port there had been practically nothing doing for the past couple of months. He did not think they could do anything unless by the provision of some attraction for people to travel. He had not lost sight of the position, and would put suggestions to the council. He had cut down expenses so much that he was in doubt as to whether he had gone too far. Their staple traffic to Fitzroy was not affected very much, but there had been a big falling away in the traffic between the town and the Breakwater. He would not advocate going back to the penny fares at present. Cr. Brown suggested that something might be done in the way of concession tickets. The matter was then dropped on the understanding that the tramways manager would go into the position.

£ 8 d Monday (Oct. 30) 5162 .. 51 16 1 Tuesday .. . .. 4327 .. 43 10 9 Wednesday .. 4478 . . 45 1 11 Thursday .. . .. 4218 .. 42 , 4 4 Friday . • • .. 55 8 1 Saturday .. 5013 .. 55 4 2 Sunday •. . .. 2396 . . 31 10 6 30,936 £324 15 10