RAILWAY REVENUE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12377, 10 February 1911, Page 2

RAILWAY REVENUE.

GRATIFYING INCREASE. The Minister for Railways (Hon. . J. A. Millar) is well pleased with the result of tho year's working of the railways. He stated that the railway revenue for the 10 months ended January 31 showed an increase of no less than £261,000 over the revenue for the corresponding 10 months of the previous year. In framing the railway estimates he had anticipated an increases of in revenue for the financial year 1910-1911, as compared with that of 1909-1910. The two months that had yet to run were busy ones for the De*'partment, which ; regarded ■ the four months, from December to March, as ■the best period <in the year. The current year's returns would not be swelled by the Easter holiday traffic, and last year's returns included two Easter seusons, and were also' assisted in the closing months of the year by the fact that there was an early harvest. Mr Millar took those factors into account in estimating this year's revenue. One thing that had materially assisted the | receipts was the holiday traffic at Christmas. Nearly 110,000 . more passengers were carried in December. than in December, 1909. The increased receipts for the 10 months had been attended "by an increase in expenditure amounting to about one-quarter of the increase in revenue. It has cost' the Department :ibout £65,000 extra to earn the addi tional £251,000 during lO months. I Mr Millar states that the percentage of working expenses to revenue will be rather lower this year than last year, when working .expenses absorbed between 67 and 68 per cent, of the revenue. The South Island revenue returns have been keeping up wonderfully well, ' considering the fact that there has been little or no addition to the mileage opened for traffic 'during the year. The South Island returns should be considerably augmented by haulage during the approaching grain .seasorii According to information supplied |o him. a fairly good harvest is expeotfed in CtMitefbiii^. The grain has filled but well, and In South Canterbury the wheat yield ii expected to average- 35 bushels per acre, and oats 40 bushels. The Otimnrti district is reported to be likely to return i. better yield than manv people expected, in view of the dry weather, and

south of Oamaru the Department's information is that crops are likely to be ■very good, while the Central Otago yield will probably be better, than the average. Asked whether the Department was equipped with sufficient rolling stock to convey grain to various ports expeditiously, Mr Millar said that if the new season's grain opened at high prices there Mould be bound to be the usual rush on tlie part of growers to get it to the market as speedily as possible. No railway concern could keep sufficient rolling stock to meet the demand, if every grower wished to rush his grain to market at the same time. "Last .year," 'he continued, "we received letters from different branches of the Farmers' Union congratulating us on tHe satisfactory , manner in which the grain was handled. I have no doubt the rolling stock will be handled by our officers' in the same efficient manner, so as to prevent the blocking of grain as much as possible."