Fort Garry residents Tuesday contested the Winnipeg Electric Company's figure of a $125 daily loss on their bus route.

The special meeting to protest the company's proposal to cut the service or raise fares was in the municipal hall.

They produced figures prepared by F. W. Crawford, university comptroller, to show that the company made at least $48 a day on the University bus run.

Residents of Fort Garry are not only opposing cuts in the bus service, and a proposed fare hike to 10 cents, but maintain the service is already inadequate.

To cut losses on the bus service between downtown Winnipeg and Osborne St. and Corydon Ave., said the company, it would be necessary to cut out the service except in rush hours. The alternative was to raise the fare for direct transit from Fort Garry to downtown Winnipeg to 10 cents.

Defending the company's position, C. H. Dahl, transportation superintendent, Winnipeg Electric Company, said it was hoped that by cutting the service, or by restoring the 10 cent fare previously charged, the company could halve its loss of $125 a day on the University line.

"The university is the biggest headache we have", said Mr. Dahl. He wished the university would start more of its classes later than 8.40 a.m., thus relieving passenger loads.

A special eight man committee, including the mayor and one councillor representative, was appointed. The committee will meet Feb. 9 to consider action to be taken on the company's proposed move.

Members of the committee elected are:

• J. Lawrie, Wildewood
• D. A. Boulden, Grandin School District
• C. R. Dow, West End Community Club
• W. E. Clark, Fort Garry Legion
• Dr. W. J. Cherewick, King's Park
• J. Beck, St. Norbert
• Mayor L. R. Fennell
• Councillor A. T. Elders

Members of the joint Legion-Ratepayers committee present were:

• E. Greenfield
• F. Myles
• J. Beck
• W. E. Clark
• S. Beatty
• C. R. Dow

Jack Madden, editor, The Manitoban, who said he was an informed representative of students, presented figures prepared by F. W. Crawford, university comptroller.

These showed, said Mr. Madden, the company made at least $48 a day on the University bus run. Calculations were based on counts of buses and passengers made for Mr. Crawford, and did not include revenue from passengers getting off before the university.

They were based on a cost of $4.50 per hour to run a bus, the figure given by the company, Mr. Madden said.

Mr. Dahl said a bus could not be run under $5 an hour.

A brief presented by a joint committee of Fort Garry Legion, and Fort Garry Ratepayers' Association said it was not a question of choosing between the service cut or fare hike.