RAILWAY ROAD SERVICES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 230, 27 August 1938, Page 11

RAILWAY ROAD SERVICES.

EXTENSION OF SCOPE. EARNINGS INCREASE. The Government’s policy of co-ord-ination of existing transport on the principal routes throughout the Dominion in the national interest has been developed further during the year in operations of tlio Railway Department’s road services, says the annual Railways Statement. Additional passenger road services were taken over on the following routes during the year: HokitikaRimu, Hamilton - Rotorua - Opotiki, Auckland-Hamilton, Weliington-Titahi Bay, and Bleuhcim-Parnassus - Kai-koura-Waiau.

The following new services were inaugurated during the year: HokitikaGreymouth; Culverden-Westport via Lewis Pass.

During the year the Government set up a tribunal to deal with the purchase of goods road services where such nction was considered desirable, and this tribunal has alreadv made recommendations respecting a number of services, which have been approved by the Government. At the end of the financial year arrangements were well in hand for taking over these services by the Railways Department. The first was taken over in May, and the work in

connection with the other services is now proceeding rapidly. The revenue of the road passenger services, amounting to £276,527, was an increase of £77,776 over the earnings of last year, and the net revenue of £21,974 was obtained after making full provision for interest on capital, for deperciation, and substantial; provision for the writing off of goodwill. The financial result is in itself satisfactory, but more important still has been the improvement in service and convenience in operation obtained through the co-ordination of road and rail services in those localities where single ownership has been brought about.