RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 20

RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES. LARGE PASSENGER DECREASE. (Special to Daily Timm.) WELLINGTON. February 11. Approximately nine months’ figures for the current financial year disclose that tho number of passengers carried on the railways since April 1 last is over 1,000,000 loss than tho number carried in the corresponding period in 1925-26. With the exception of timber satisfactory increases are shown in tho number of cattle,sheep and pigs, and of other goods transported. The period taken officially for purposes of comparison is April 1, 1926 to January 8, 1927 —283 days. The comparative figures for the corresponding period of the previous years cover 277 days. The passengers carried during tho 1926-27 period totalled 7,656,359, a« against 8,719,489 during the shorter period in the previous year. The decrease of 1,063,130 comprised 174,570 first class passengers and 611,794 second class pasengors. Season tickets were sold up to January 8 last to the number of 438,357, 5659 loss than in 1926. The increase in tho number of cattle carried was 678,020, and in goods 93,452 tons. The timber tonnage was 72,084 tons less. The working account shows a decline in the profit on tho railways during tho 1926 period, ns compared with 1925, amounting to about £50,000. Tho revenue actually increased from £5,783,686 in tho 1925 period to £5,936,009 in 1926. while the expenditure also increased from £4,787,019 to £4,988,490. The profits wore thus £947,509 and £996,667 for the 1926 and 1925 periods respectively, a falling off of £49,158. With a view to co-ordinating tho operations of the commercial activities of tho department, a conference of the business ng ;nts of the Railways Department was e.pcnsd by tho Acting Minister of Railways (the Hon. F. J. Rollestou'