OUR RAILWAY TRAFFIC FOR 1907-8.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13750, 15 May 1908, Page 3

OUR RAILWAY TRAFFIC FOR 1907-8.

.Sir, —The Gazette for April 50 gives us " the result of our railway traffic for the financial year ending March 31 last.' When perusing what follow* will reader* kindly remember that last year was the most- proa- " porous one tin's Dominion has ever had? 'I In; total gross railway revenue was £2,763,933, being mi im-reac; of £1-37,333 on ■ the previous year. The to'-al expenditure -was £1.949,753, or an increase oil the previous year nr.. £137.276. ■ Thus it ill be seen that for an increased expenditure of over £137,000 on " work tug""" — expenses" alone, to say nothing of capital ; or interest, we have achieved the " phenomenal " result of actually securing a:> additional sum of £62 of what our Government is pleated to call net revenue, and no doubtSir Joseph will fell us the result of the year's working is "highly satisfactory." . . Let us now see what the North and South. Islands respectively have contributed towards creating this wonderful £62. In the- North Island the grow increase of.' revenue was £113,703, and the' increase of- •. working expenses £60,105, giving a net increase of £53.593. > In the' South Island the gross increase of -, revenue was- £23,635, and the increase ol;■ working expenses was £57,173, thus showing that the net revenue of the South Island, in ' '• our most prosperous year, actually decreased ■ £33,538. It will be seen that the figures for: the whole Dominion, and the two Elands; separately, do not exactly balance. They'"' reduce the wonderful increase to £60 only. Thus -it will be seen that the North Island not only pulled the .South Inland out of the. mud, but also in addition contributed the" whole of this £62" increase. ' • - I ask would it be possible to produce a. more emphatic condemnation of our railway administration arid administrators? Let it. be remembered that over ,l i more millions have been* expended in he South than in • this island, anil that there the system, or n<i system, pursued has attained it*. highest development. It is well also to remember that Sir Joseph Ward has more than once stated« that this Joss must ' increase year by year.""• , -. * . Auckland, May 5. S.VJIPKI, VaUE, . "" -