The Dunstan Times “Flat janstitia runt coleum”. MONDAY. MURCH 29TH 1909. LOCAL & GENERAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2488, 5 July 1909, Page 4

The Dunstan Times “Flat janstitia runt coleum”. MONDAY. MURCH 29TH 1909. LOCAL & GENERAL.

The traffic returns for the Otago Central Railway have railway at j ast j )een ma d e pubRETURNS, lic by the Ho n. J. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, and it is satisfactory to note that the revenue for the year just ended shows a substantial increase on the previous year. The net earnings also show an increase of practically £i,ooo, being ,£4,780 as against £3,845 for the former period. This is pleasing news when it is considered that last year was far from being a favorable one as far as the Otago Central line was concerned. There was for one thing the unprecedented heavy snow storm of the winter, which disorganised traffic for several weeks, and must have also added very considerably to the working expenses side of the balance-sheet. Then there were the concessions granted to settlers during the period 1 in which their lands were snow covered. These concessions were freely availed of and, though of infinite benefit to the participants, | must have added a good quota to the costs side of the question. Those who are acquainted with the volume cf traffic on the line will not be surprised at the amount of the approximated revenue (£42,523), unless in? deed it is that they are surprised that it is not greater. The manner of approximating the revenue on branch railway lines is, however, < a conundrum which only the initi- j ated of the service can explain. To 1 the ordinary layman it would seem that the branch line gets the worst of the deal every time, in so much that it is only credited with a portion of the earnings and has to provide for all the expenses of workings, Another factor which dptract§ from its revenue producing powers is that apparently the carrying of the mails is done free of charge as far as the railway is concerned. The most

striking factor in the whole statement, however, is, that after the line has been running for twelve months, the cost of construction is increased by no less than £ 75,000. If a similar amount is to be tacked on year by year Central Otago will have to bump ahead pretty smartly to reach the 3 per cent paying basis of the Minister of Railways,