TRAM REVENUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1922, Page 5

TRAM REVENUE.

REASONS FOR THE DROP. PROPOSALS TO MEET IT. REDUCED FARES SUGGESTED. i TIME NOT OPPORTUNE. “That all present concession tickets on the tramways be discontinued, that the cash fares remain as at present, and that the Is concession ticket for twelve one section rides be reintroduced.” The above recommendation from the finance and electric light comhiittee (the Mayor, and Crs. J. Brown, J. Kibby and R. L. Parkin) caused florae discussion at last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council. Cr. Kibby moved that the recommendation be adopted. The Mayor said he was against the motion, and he moved as an amendment that the clause be deleted. Cr. F. J. Hill seconded. “The population is increasing, and I am certain the present twopenny minimum fare is keeping passengers off the trams.” asserted Cr. Kibby. The question was one that should be considered fairly. “If we are losing traffic there must be a reason,” said Cr. Brown, who thought the loss was on the sections from Eliot Street to Egmont Street, and from Egmont Street to Belt Road. The evidence of the tram conductors bore this out. People were now walking instead of paying the twopence. That might be good for their health, but it was not good for tramway revenue. People should be encouraged to ride on the trams, and the scheme suggested should be given a trial. The revenue, he considered, should increase every year, and he could not agree with a statement made by the Mayor that 1921 was a record year. The speaker thought the 1922 figures should be better still. The loss, ho was convinced, was not on long sections. That the time was not opportune for a trial of the new scheme as there would be larger traffic during the Christmas holidays and it would not be known if the proposed scheme was having the desired effect, was the reason Cr. R. A. Large advanced for voting for the amendment. Most ndfcvcomera went to the outlying suburbs, such as Westown and Vogeltown, which were off the tram route. The erection of shops in the suburbs on the route, especially those at West End and near Eliot Street, also accounted for less tram traffic.

The general manager (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) said it must be recognised that a reduction would be necessary some time, but he thought it a bad time just at present, when visitors would be in New Plymouth for the holidays and the band contest. In his opinion a concession should be made at the time the one-man cars were put into operation after the band contest. Mr. Bellringer also considered the present sections were too short.

On being put the Mayor’s amendment was declared carried on the voices.

TRAMWAY MANAGER’S SCHEME.

The decrease in the revenue earned by the New Plymouth tramways for the half year was £720 when compared with last year. In reporting this to the Borough Council last night, the tramways manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) stated that with a view to arresting this decline and to ascertain where the decrease was taking place, he had made full inquiries and comparisons with last year, which were set out at length. After quoting figures, the report proceeded: “The greatest drop in revenue is in the early morning and late evening. This is also again shown by the reduced sales of workers’ concession tickets. There is also a decrease spreading over the whole of the receipts, as compared with 1921. In other words, the decrease in the first place is due to the lack of work and the workers not travelling, and in> the second case shortage of work means less money to be spent by the individual members of the families, and the tramways, in common with all other businesses, must naturally suffer. There is also another factor which must to some extent affect temporarily thq tramways revenue, but ultimately will work in its favor. I refer to the erection of produce and various other stores, which have recently been opened at both ends of the main tramway route. Ido not think that there is any one thing in particular, other than the general depression through which we have been passing, which ip directly responsible for the reduced ♦’ainway receipts, and I am qu/te sure as soon as times become nearer (normal the position will improve, j DETAILS OF PROPOSALS. ' “In the meantime consideration can be given to one or two matters which the above figures reveal. Advantage is not being taken of the concession tickets in anything like the proportion that it should be, and it may be beneficial to offer a further inducement in this direction, more especially to the longer distance passenger. 1 am inclined to think that a reduction of twopence on the 1/6 concession ticket, threepence ont the 2/6 ticket, and sixpence on the 3/6, 4/6, 5/6 and 6/6 tickets, would encourage the use of them, and I recomment this for the council’s consideration. I am of opinion that it would be a very big mistake to interfere in any way with the cash fares, and after careful consideration I cannot see that there is any advantage to be gained by alteration or rearrangement of the sections; in fact, I think it is not advisable. For some time past I have had in mind the working of overlaps! on most of the sections, but on going fully into the matter, too many disadvantages are revealed, especially with ticket complications—so much so that I have not carried it any further. “The three concession tickets (1/6, 2/6 and 3/6) represent .221 of the total revenue, while the 3d and 4d tickets individually represent a greater proportion. Whilst I am recommending the extra concession on these tickets, it is still doubtful in my mind that the sales will increase sufficiently to make up the difference. A trial is the only thing that will show this. It should, however, produce the effect of converting cash into card fares, a very desirable feature in the light of one-man car operation. The whole of these comparisons are made as against 1921, our best year, and no doubt a very exceptional one; and it is just a question as to whether the comparison is fair, and if the same was made as against the average of preceding years, the present year would lead considerably.” PAST MONTH’S RETURNS. AN IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. Reporting on the working of the trams during November, Mr. Bartley stated the revenue showed an improvement on the previous month, but was still £54 Is 7d

behind, with 8841 fewer passengers carried, as compared with the corresponding period of 1921. The returns for the month are: Main route: Mileage run 15,418; passengers carried 129,441; fares £1415 18s. Morley Street and Strandon route: 2532, 12,603; £94 12s 3d. Combined routes: 17,950; 142,044; £l5lO 10s. The electric ’bus carried 10,790 passengers and earned £lO7 0s 6d during November. The passengers were divided as follows: Westown 6282, Vogeltown 3927, Frankley Road 581. Comparing these figures with November, 1921, increases of £6 7s Id and 1272 additional passengers are shown. CHRISTMAS SERVICE. “The Christmas time-table worked satisfactorily last year, and I recommend that 'the same arrangements be again adopted this year,” wrote the tramways manager to the council. In reply to a question, the manager said there would be no service on Christmas Day. The recommendation was adopted.