"BIGGEST BUSINESS"

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 11

"BIGGEST BUSINESS"

RAILWAYS OF DOMINION

Facts about the New- Zealand railways were explained to the members of the Wadestown and. Highland Park •Men's Society by Mr. B. Casey, Assistant General Manager of Railways. This country possessed 3200 miles of railways, he said, in which had been invested a capital of £54,000,000, which made it the biggest business Concern in New Zealand. In 1934 the revenue was £6 600,000, the expenditure £5,500,000, and the net profit £1,110,000. On it had been carried 90,500,000 passengers and 6,000,000 tons of goods. The employees numbered 16,000. ■■.••■.. In stores the Railway Department had been of considerable value to the business world, having purchased to the extent of £1,650,000, of ' which£42s,ooo went to New Zealand merchants.: The coal bill was also a big item, £464,000, being the cost of 8000 tons of New Zealand coal daily.

The running of the ■ . railways was then dealt with by Mr. Casey. They were under-the control of the Minister of Railways, under whom were a Railways Board of five members, a General. Manager, Assistant General Manager, and various departmental heads. The organisation was dealt with in-de-tail, and Mr. Casey; showed how every department worked, their associated activities.resulting in.a smoothly running business.