RAILWAY TRAFFIC FALLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18202, 22 September 1922, Page 8

RAILWAY TRAFFIC FALLS.

PASSENGERS AND GOODS. DEPRESSION IN TRADE. TKUCGSAPH.—SPECTAI, REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thuraoay. The General Manager, in his annual report, states that the number of ordinary passengers carried during the year on the New Zealand railways was 13,262,440, a decrease of 1.053,200. Season tickets issued numbered 472,865, an increase of 8274. Workers' 12-trip tickets issued numbered 121,121, and weekly workmen's tickets issued on suburban lines 274,685. The goods and livestock tonnage was 6,321,351 tons, a decrease of 165,928 tons. I The decreases were as follows j 96,841 head, timber 9489 tons, minerals ; 34,416 tons, other, goods H0,343 tons. i Sheep increased by 456,153 head, and pigs J by 50,140.head. j - The decrease in passenger traffic is largely accounted for by the fact of last year's figures including the holiday traffic for two Easters and the heavy business arising out of the visit of the Prince of Wales; also the cessation of the issue of tickets to returned soldiers. The falling off in Rood a traffic is due to trade depression. There has been a de cline in shipping traffic at ports, and also in merchandise, timber, coal, and other minerals inland. The traffic from Auckland decreased by 21,000 tons,, Wellisgton ,47.000 (emu. Lyttelton 22.000 tons, Chrtstehurch 1500 j tons, Port Chalmers 6000 tons, Invercar • gUI 8000 tons, and Bluff 1500 tons. These figures indicate that the depression is w-despread, and is having a tar-reaching effect on the railway revenue. The average ;number of men emploved for the year was 15,662, against 14,252 for the previous year.

RETURNS FOR 20 WEEKS, i WORKING PROFITS HIGHER. [EX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Railway Department's working ac- ' count for the four weeks ended August 19 shows a profit in the North Island of £14,307 and in.the South Island a loss of £4978. In the corresponding period of last year there was a,loss on working on both systems, that in the North Island beincr £9498 and that in the South Island £42,735. The total receipts in the North Island for the period of 20 weeks have been £1,368,99? and the i working expenses j £1,236,727, leaving £132,270 toward in- | terest charges. For the corresponding i period last year the working profit was £62,379. In the South Island receipts were £1,025,758 and expenses £979,512, leaving a Working profit of £46,246. Last year the system showed a loss on working to Aug- ' ust 20 of £109,709. * Both systems show lower revenue, but the decline has been offset by a greater reduction in expenses.