RAILWAY REVENUE

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1922, Page 9

RAILWAY REVENUE

ECONOMY IN EXPENDITURE

A TWO-MONTH STATEMENT.

Revenue and expenditure on the New Zealand railways for the period let April to 27th May are discussed in a statement issued yesterday. There is a decrease of first and secondclass passengers of 8 and 4 per cent: in the single tickets, compared with the corresponding period of last year, and an increase of about 4 per centi in return fares and season tickets. A general decrease of 12 per cent, is shown in the freight and live stock carried, of cattle 13, and sheep and pigs 2 per cent.; of timber. 33 per cent. The total revenue and expenditure of the North and South Island lines for the period referred to are as follows:—

■ While the revenue shows a shrinkage of 12 per cent, in the Norih Island, and 3 per cent, in the South, there has been an all-round decrease of 17 per cent, in expenditure. The extra mileage open for traffic was 20 miles.

The revenue on the North Island main line and branches, that is, excluding Whangarei, Kaihu, and Gisborne services, fell from £661,177 to £587.433, and the expenditure from £592.108 to £489,330. ' For the South Island main iines and branches (excluding Westland, Westport, Nelson, Picton, and Lake Wakatipu) the revenue showed a decrease fTom.£4o4,fo3'to £399.009, and the expenditure from £424,925 to £349,156.

The expenditure on all North Island lines is 85 per cent, of the revenue, «3 compared with 90 per cent, foi the *ama period of last year, and the comparison, in regard to the South Island lines, is 86 and 102 per cent, respectively.

The total capital cost of lines opened to date is £37.235,254, and of unopened lines £4,190.243.

Revenue. 1822 1921 period, period. Decrease £ £ North Island 605.719 684,479 12% South Island 462,127 475,516 3% Totals li067,846 .1,169,995..'. 8% Expenditure. Worth Island 512,678 612.610 17% South Island 399,329 483,286 17% Totals 912,007 1,095,896 17%