16 JUNE 1939, Page 52

LISBON ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS

Lisbon Electric Tramways expect to be called upon for con- siderable capital expenditure in connexion with the town- planning scheme which is now under consideration there. At the meeting last week the chairman, Mr. A. N. Rye, announced that the company had undertaken to discuss with the authorities the requirements of the scheme when their proposals were ready. But he indicated that, as- the scheme envisages progressive development, it was probable that the capital expenditure would be spread over a number of years. Last year the company again achieved a record in the number of passengers. It carried the total of 131,087,670, showing an increase of 5,224,075 over the previous year. There are now no fewer than 3,853 employees on the pay roll, of whom only z6 are British. Mr. Rye spoke very highly of the Portuguese