THE RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 119, 15 November 1929, Page 12

THE RAILWAYS

DECLINING TEAFFIC

HALF-YEAR'S FIGURES

Figures published in this week's "Gazette," showing the result of the operations of the railways during the first six months of the current financial year, reveal a less satisfactory condition than for the corresponding period last year. The figures are those of the railway working account from Ist April to 12th October, and deal plainly with revenue and expenditure; the subsidy payable in respect of non-paying branch lines, and the amount the railways are required to earn in interest on the capital" invested, are not taken into consideration. Analysis shows that the surplus of revenue over expenditure for the six months to date falls £138,021 short of that shown at the end of the corresponding period last year. The totals are compared as follows: — Six Months. Six Months. 1928. 1929. £ & Revenue .... 4,077,045 4,171,602 Expenditure „ 3,670,778 3,903,356 Surplus .. 406,267 268,246 DETAILED RETURNS. Detailed figures of revenue and expenditure are as follows:— EEVENUE. Six Months. Six Months. 1928. 1929. & £, North Island .. 2,150,589 2,148.719 South Island .. 1,550,621 1,614,337 Miscellaneous . 106,043 189.961 Lake Wakatipu . Steamers .. 4,153 5,434 Kefres hmentrooms road motors, etc.... 149,647 155,041 D c p a r tmental"' dwellings .. 55,962 58,110 4,077,045 ,4.171,602 EXPENDITURE. Six Months. Six Months. 1928. 1929. & & North Island .. 1,908,049 2,024,413 South Island .. 1,515,835' 1,611,713 Lake Wakatipu Steamers .. 10,489 10,687 Kefres hmentrooms, road motors, etc. . 144,531 157,900 D c p a r tmental dwellings .. 91,874 98,643 3,670,778 3,903,356 TRAFFIC STATISTICS. The increasing popularity of road motor services is illustrated by the traffic statistics for the same period, which are summarised as follows:— , Six Months. Six Months. 1928. „ 1929. First'class passengers . 550,533 490,074 S c c on d-c 1 ass passengers .. 3,722,668 3,423,646 Road motor services 1,443,120 1,671,273 Totals 5,716,321 5,584,993 These figures»show that while the railway bus services are increasing in patronage, a falling-off in national railways and bus service patronage has been experienced during the half-year of 131,328 passengers.