RAILWAY EARNINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 11

RAILWAY EARNINGS

"A VERY GOOD YEAR"

ABSORPTION OF EXTRA COSTS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 21.

The fact that railway earnings up to the present time had increased so greatly that, the additional cost of the 40-hour week and the restoration of wages had been almost absorbed was announced by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) today. The Department had had a very good year, said the Minister. At the. same time the objective of the Government in introducing the 40-hour week had been achieved through the greater employment it had created. The railways alone were employing 2755 more men than they did 12 months ago and 3091 more men than when the present Government came into office. The Department had been able not only to provide an improved service, but also to make a reasonable profit. The amount of £3,500,000 provided in the Estimates of the requirements for railway improvements in the coming financial year was another indication of the Government's policy to make the rai: ..ys serve to a greater extent than ever .before the travel and general transport requirements of the people, said the Minister.

The general improvement was shown in the fact, that passenger journeys in the North Island for February this year increased by 58,326, or 15.89 per cent, compared with last year. There was also an increase of 131,563 in the number of passengers carried by the railway motor services. That increase of 49.16 per cent, -was partly accounted for by-the taking over of the Wellington-Khandallah service.

The total railway revenue in the North Island during February increased by £64,946, or 18.16 per cent.