OHAI RAILWAY BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 4

OHAI RAILWAY BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING OFFICERS’ REPORTS SUBMITTED The monthly meeting of the Ohai Railway Board was held in the Board Room, Wairio, yesterday. There were present: Messrs L. S. Edmond (chairman), G. Edie, W. Crawford, G. Tinker, D. D. MacDonald, G. Davis and W. Excell. The general manager (Mr A. W. Rodger), and the traffic manager (Mr R. Donnelly) were also in attendance. The general manager reported:— “During the financial year ended March 31 the quantity of coal hauled exceeded that for the previous year by 31,993 tons. For the first three weeks of the year commencing on April 1 there is an increase in coal haulage of 345 tons, when compared with the same period in 1936-1937. “The total haulage of coal for each of the past five years is set out hereunder: — Year. Tons. *1932-1933 117,655 1933- 162,610 1934- 176,192 1935- 185,984 1936- 217,977 ♦Year of 27 weeks’ strike. “It will be seen from the above figures that during the past year there was an increase of 31,993 tons in the quantity hauled when compared with 19351936. Undoubtedly there has been a marked increase in the demand for coal generally, but a very great portion of the increment recorded must be attributed to the fact that the transport of coal from the mines by road lorry has been confined to a specified area since January 1, 1936. This is demonstrated by the fact that during the year there was an increase in consignments of coal over the Government Railways to stations within the Southland province of no fewer than 2846 wagons, equal to approximately 20,000 tons, when compared with the previous year.

Income and Expenditure

“The position of the board as disclosed by these figures has improved during the year by £4756. “Much of the expenditure incurred during the past year will not be recurring, on the other hand, the full effect of the increase in wages, coupled with the shorter hours, was not experienced during the year under review, as they did not become operative until July 1, 1936 or later.” The report was adopted. The report of the traffic manager stated: “The No. 3 locomotive has been under repairs for several weeks and is now ready to take up the usual heavy winter coal traffic. An additional Westinghouse air pump has been fitted to the locomotive for quicker handling of long trains. “The Wairio weighbridge was tested ton by ton with the test wagon on March 15, and found to be registering correctly." The report was adopted. The following donations were made: —St. John Ambulance Brigade, Ohai, £5; Ohai Bowling Club £5; Ohai Plunket Society £2 2/-; Wairio Hall Committee £5; Nightcaps Silver Band £2 2/It was decided to accept the tender of the Mossbank Coal Co., Ltd., for the supply of 500 tons of coal for the board’s use.

* 0> g o 1 u o X c w St JO i—< ’ll 0) O >< H a I Year £ £ £ 1932-1933 13,862 12,463 1,399 1933-1934 19,197 11,687 7,510 1934-1935 17,083 11,176 5,907 1935-1936 14,445 11,086 2,639 1936-1937 16,854 13,434 3,420 Assets and Liabilities <D <5 <u >< 45 ft Effective liabilitiei 1 w fro 3 S3 W w Year £ £ £ 1932-1933 177,248 30,179 147,060 1933-1934 177,836 21,735 156,103 1934-1935 179,916 16,485 163,431 1935-1936 180,267 12,993 167,274 1936-1937 180,309 8,279 172,030