AUCKLAND RAILWAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 6

AUCKLAND RAILWAYS

FIGURES_FOR YEAR PROFIT OF £33,248 During the last financial year the railways of the Auckland District have made a profit of £33,248. THE year ended on March 31 and consequently does not include all the Easter traffic, which showed a considerable increase in every department. The greatest falling off during the year has been in timber, which has decreased by 8,316,800 superficial feet. This probably is due to the amount of foreign woods which has been imported. Passengers decreased by 100,109, but the season ticket-holders increased by nearly 4,000. The largest Increases are recorded in cattle, sheep and pigs, and other goods. This last includes coal, butter, meat, manures, general merchandise, etc., and increased by nearly 100,000 tons. Sheep and pigs increased by 115,000-odd, and the cattle by nearly 100,000. During the last year the East Coast railway to Taneatua has been opened and has made a big difference in the amount of stock carried. The Kirikopuni section was also opened, but this has not been such a payable proposition as the line through the Bay of Plenty, which has proved to be of great benefit to the farming community there. The 1928-29 year has seen a big increase in the holiday excursion tickets issued, and the innovation to give excursion fares during school vacations has proved most popular. In the 1927-28 period, 93,857 holiday excursion tickets were issued, but in the 1928-29 period these rose to 137,840, an increase of 43,983. Following are the principal items: _ .1927-28. 1928-29. Passengers .. . 2,217,433 2,117,324 Season tickets .. 226,245 229,929 Cattle 156,537. 237,919 Sheep and pigs . 976,691 1,092,107 Timber (sup. ft.) 52,087,050 43,770 250 Other goods (tons) 1,587,124 1,681,666 Total revenue .. £2,020,766 £2,054,014