"HIGHEST EVER."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 4

"HIGHEST EVER."

RAILWAY REVENUE.

£10,214,000 GROSS.

MINISTER'S PREDICTION.

net income over £1,250,000.

(By Tolocraph— Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day

A net revenue of approximately £1.2.-10,000 nn the highest gross revenue in tho history erf the Now Zealand Railway* Iα anticipated by the Minister of Railways, tho Hon. D. O. Sullivan, who, i>i an outline of the operntione of the Now Zealand Railways in 1039. mentioned »"»!" of tho Department's principal

achievements

"From a monetary point of view, the year's working eh owe every indication of record revenue much in exceee of that earned in any previous year," said the Minister. "The statement of account* for the year ended March 31 last showed gro«e earnings of £9.345,387, tlii.i being the first time, in the Dominion's railway history that tho i11.000.00il mark has been reached. The grown revenue for the current year (ended March 31, 1040) would bo greater still, and wiw expected to exceed £10.214,000. Expenditure wee estimated nt £8,064,000, and the anticipated net revenue would be in the vioinity of £1,250,000.

Outstanding Developments. "Tlio calendar year now closing hae boon marked by many outstanding tailway developments," the Minister , proceeded. "On tho traffic side the most important event of the year was the completion and opening in July last of tho railway from Napier to Wairoa (73 miles). On thte line etenm train* are run exclusively for goods and standard raiWrs »ra used for paeeengere. It is tho first railway in New Zealand to be free from cunrbensome mixed trains for its initial services to the travelling public. A pleasing feature of this new lino is that it has already proved its worth to the community, and a recent weekly revenue of more than £1000 (which is steadily increasing) is proof of the Government's wisdom in proceeding with the completion of this railway.

"The manufacture at the Hutt and Hillsido workshops respectively of soverni 'K' and 'J , class steam locomotives lift* enabled the Department to provide more powerful traction for iiiutliigo of longer and heavier trains. Tho use of these, hew locomotives has improved the service to the public and effected economies in train-running costs.

"Tlio manufacture at Hutt Valley workshops of nine electric locomotives, of which two are for the Otira-Arthur's Pass section and seven are for tho Wei-lington-Paekakariki service, is nearing completion, and these modern power units shovld be in commission early in 1940. Fourteen new shunting tractors have also been brought into use in country areas.

"During the year 66 carriages (a number of which are equipped with airconditioning apparatus), three raflcar* and 1757 wagons have been built at the Department's workshops, thus providing additional and improved accommodation for passengers, goods and live stock. Longest Railway Bridfe. '

"The most outstanding performance in connection with permanent way structures ban* beep, the erection of a. new bridge. 67jSOf{ long—the longest bridge in New Zealand—over the Rakaia River, in Canterbury. Other new bridge* 'ton existing Hnea completed during the year were the Waiwakaitio bridge, near New Plymouth, the Wail>ii wa bridge, In Hawke's Bay, the bridge over the Rangltata (between nmnru and Ashburton), and some hmailer strucCureVt/*