Increases — tremendous in transportation; relatively small in electric power, and fair in gas and coke sales, but all increases — were reported by the Winnipeg Electric Co. in its annual year-end round review.

The company's transportation report, showing 10 million more passengers this year than in 1941, is all the more remarkable when it is considered that during the peak periods in 1941 the W.E. Co transportation facilities were taxed to their capacities.

Explaining the ten million passenger increase over 1941 by the enhanced war employment as well as the stricter rationing of gas, oil and tires for private vehicles, the W. E. Co. report spoke of the success obtained by the Advisory Traffic Commission in soliciting the co-operation of employers and employees in having working hours staggered.

The eventual staggering of work hours solved the most serious of transportation problems.

Such additional equipment as could be procured was added to the company's fleet of buses — 25 motor buses and one trolley bus in all. Also, 19 more street cars were fitted for service and, during 1942, 56 additional men were employed as operators.

Regarding the matter of conserving gas and rubber, the company curtailed or discontinued entirely many of its bus services. These actions resulted in a saving of 933,000 bus miles or 5,600,000 tires miles and 125,000 gallons of gas per year. This meant that more people had to be transported on existing rail lines.

Unlike certain areas in the east, there is no power shortage in this province, and the W. E. company reports at present a surplus of about 25,000-horsepower of 24-hour firm power above its present and anticipated firm power requirements this winter. The company also reports it could, if necessary, increase this power by about another 40,000 horsepower of firm 24-hour power within less than nine months from its Seven Sisters Falls hydro plant.

The company expects, with the continued eastern power shortage, Manitoba's surplus power may be utilized before long.

Generally, 1942 has seen but a small increase in the electric sales of the W.E.C.

One of the oldest of Winnipeg's industries, the manufacture of gas, during 1942 has been increased to meet the increased industrial use of same.

The increased sale of coke over 1941 was not marked as that of gas sales.

The W.E.C. reports gas to be extensively used in the local railroad shops, malting companies, military barracks, clothing factories, meat packing plants, bakeries and in large Iron works.

The present daily production reaches close to three million cubic feet — the annual production for 1942 exceeding 600 million.