TRANSPORT STATISTICS

Evening Star, Issue 22989, 21 June 1938, Page 1

TRANSPORT STATISTICS

ALL-ROUND INCREASES Complete railway statistics for the financial year are now available (says the ‘ Abstract of Statistics ’), and these indicate all-round increases as compared with the figures for recent years. Passenger journeys numbered 22,441,212, this total being 5.7 per cent, higher than the total for the previous financial year, and higher than in any year since 1930-31. ,Net ton-miles run aggregated 561,122,000 for the year just ended, the total representing a record for the Dominion. The 1937-38 total represents an increase of 54.4 per cent, as compared with tho lowest total—at least for recent years—recorded in 1932-33 (363,449,000). Operating revenue for the year just ended shows an excess of £300,000 over operating expenditure. The number of motor vehicles licensed as at March 31, 1938, was 280,327, of which • number 190,554 were private cars. As compared with the position at the end of March of 1937, an increase of 9.6 per cent, is recorded for all motor vehicles and of 12.1 per cent, for private cars. Evidence of the increased usage of motor vehicles may be obtained from statistics of the quantity of motor spirit released from bond. During the year ended March 31, 1938, the quantity released from bond was 92,017.632 gallons, as compared with 81,095,665 gallons in 1936-37, 71,487,272 gallons in 1935-36, 63,482,149 gallons in 1934-35, and 57,546,718 gallons in 1933-34. At the end of March 18 aircraft were engaged in commercial aircraft services, as compared with 12 aircraft at the end of March, 1937. During the quarter ended on March 31, 1938, 17,669 passengers were carried by commercial aircraft services, as compared with 11,355 during the same quarter of last year. . The total cargo tonnage earned by overseas shipping during the 12 months ended on March 31, 1938, was 3,738,231, an increase of 11.7 per cent., as compared with tho cargo tonnage of 3.345.192 recorded in the previous March year. The cargo tonnage carried by coastal shipping shows an increase of 4.4 per cent, over 1936-37, the actual tonnages being 3,978,666 for 1937-38 and 3,811,066 for 1936-37.

Overseas passenger traffic was more brisk during the year ended March 31, 1938, 45,392 passenger arrivals being recorded,' as compared with 37,619 in the previous year. Passenger departures were also much higher for 193733, the number being 43,006, as compared with 37,972 for the previous year. The excess of passenger arrivals over departures in 1937-38 was 2,386, as compared with an excess of departures of 353 in 1930-37,. Tourist arrivals, inclvfaiUg'Hliosc cruising .tours, recorded an inereiNt? of 12.9 per cent.’,'The actual totals being 17,297 and 19,534 for 1936-37 and 1937-38 respectively.