RECORD FIGURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22933, 11 January 1938, Page 10

RECORD FIGURES

HOLIDAY RAIL TRAFFIC BUSIEST YEAR IN HISTORY LARGE INCREASE IN REVENUE " Although tho final figures have not yet been collated, it is anticipated that the passenger returns for the holiday period just passed will probably exceed those of any previous year," said the general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, yesterday in reference to the. exceptionally heavy traffic handled by the department within recent weeks. Tho excellent weather prevailing over the Christmas and New Year period, associated with the improvement in conditions generally, had created an unprecedented movement in the department's passenger business, Mr. Mackley continued, and the traffic on the Main Trunk lines in both the North a,nd South Islands, in particular, had been .very heavy indeed. Figures for tho Auckland station up to the end of last week showed an increase of £2500 for the Christmas period, as compared with the previous year's total, and ,up to the present time there had been no abatement in the volume of traffic.

" All of the main centres throughout the system have experienced probably one of their busiest Christmases," said Mr. Mackley. "It is anticipated that the gross revenue for the current financial year ending March 31, 1938, will establish a record in the history of tho fS T e\v Zealand railways." The goods traffic, in keeping with tho great increase in passenger business, had also been unprecedentedly heavy, while as a result of the increased traffic, the refreshment branch had been taxed to its limits. It was also anticipated that the picnic traffic during the remaining weeks of the school holidays would constitute a record.

The policy of duplicating services rather than running long, heavy trains had proved not onlv to be helpful to tho travelling public, but also of material assistance to the department in coping with the pressure of work. " 1 would like to pay a personal compliment to tho whole of the railways staff for the very able and efficient manner in which they have dealt with the rush of traffic," said Mr. Mackley. " When tho final figures are made available I believe tho fine work performed by the staff as a whole will be more clearly understood and even more greatly appreciated."