RECORD RAILWAY REVENUE

Southland Times, Issue 23774, 23 March 1939, Page 4

RECORD RAILWAY REVENUE

LAST FOUR-WEEKLY PERIOD EXPANSION DURING PAST QUARTER (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 22. “The approximate total of railways revenue for the last four-weekly period is £918,000,” said the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, after his arrival with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J Savage, today. “It constitutes a railway revenue record for any one period, being £78,000 higher than the record revenue for the four-weekly period immediately preceding it and £114,000 higher than the revenue for the' corresponding four . weeks of last year. On the figures submitted to me I estimate that the net revenue for the period ended March 4 will be £237,000, bringing the net revenue for 48 weeks of the current year up to £446,000. I confidently expect the total net revenue for the year to accord with my recent estimate, namely, £700,000.” Mr Sullivan added that the great expansion of railway revenue for the Dominion during the past quarter was undoubtedly evidence of trade prosperity and improved domestic finances Comparatively the position of the railways in England was still unsettled and a cause of anxiety. ‘ Commenting on the Government’s intention to introduce an amended scale of charges for railway transport from May 1 next. Mr Sullivan said the general effect of the scheme would be to flatten out the higher rates for general merchandise and simplify the tariff. It would bring the method of assessing railway freights more closely into line with the practice followed by road operators.

RISE OF £lOOO IN REVENUE RAILWAYS DEPARTMENT IN SOUTHLAND An increase of more than £lOOO in the revenue of the Railways Department for the Southland district for the eight weeks ended March 4 is shown when the figures are compared with those last year. The increase of 10 per cent, in passenger and freight rates introduced early in December has, however, not resulted in a corresponding increase in revenue. Revenue from passengers has declined slightly, while an increase in revenue is shown under other sources. The comparative figures are:

PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 4 Traffic

1939 1938 Passengers 41,685 51,181 Season tickets 1,150 1,496 Road motor passengers 2,509 2,670 Road motor tons 20 26 Cattle 1,551 3,151 Sheep 132,238 152,757 Timber (Tons) 1,663 1,687 Other Goods (Tons) 33,412 35,061 ' Revenue £ £ Passenger 7,516 8,056 Season Tickets 597 727 Parcels 751 745 Goods 34,605 32,324 Road Motor Passengers 1,075 998 Road Motor Goods 92 110 Miscellaneous 1,654 1,076 » II— ■ — ■ — Totals 46,290 44,036 — PERIOD ENDED MARCH 4 Traffic 1939 1938 Passengers 46,222 52,565 Season tickets 1,637 1,405 Road Motor Passengers 2,547 2,836 Road Motor Tons 25 29 Cattle 1,453 3,451 Sheen 135,778 206,785 Timber (Tons) 2,199 2,642 Other Goods (Tons) 44,171 47,124 Revenue £ £ Passenger 6,684 6,974 Season Tickets 1,055 759 Parcels 715 741 Goods 38,962 39,993 Road Motor Passengers 985 987 Road Motor Gods 110 116 Miscellaneous , 1,546 1,731 1 1 ■ II — Totals 50,057 51,301 . 1.11 !■ Grand Revenue Totals 96,347 95,337