PEAK OF RAILWAYS YEAR

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 118, 12 February 1926, Page 11

PEAK OF RAILWAYS YEAR

— A DECEMBER IMPROVEMENT / Figures published in the Gazette indicate that for the portion of the financial year up to January 2, the total revenue of the railways was £5,783,686 (for the corresponding period of . last year £5.199,392), and the expenditure was £4,787,019 (last year (£4,194,438). The expenditure this year was 82.77 per cent, of revenue; last year it was 80.67. In the North Island the percentage of expenditure to revenue rose (compared with last year) from 74.19 to 77.29; in the South’ Island it rose from 90.65 to 95.82. For New Zealand the falling off in passenger journeys to date is 874,779; but freight lias increased by 202,885 tons, plus 68,000 live stock. a hopeful sign is that for the four weeks ended January 2 the figures are generally better than for the corresponding four weeks. When the next four-weekly return is available, the best part of the holiday period—the annual peak for the railways—will be complete. This period goes a long way to make or mar the railways year. For the four weeks ended January 2 passenger revenue shoiy#d a slight increase in each island compared with last year, and the figures of total revenue were :—North Island, £427,113 (last year £396,465) ; South Island, £242,124 (last year £234,144).