COST OF RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1931, Page 11

COST OF RAILWAYS

TOTAL NOW £68,679,000.

THREE MILLIONS INCREASE.

Capital expenditure on the New Zeai land Railways, according to the annual return furnished by the Rublie Works Department, amounted at March 31 to £68,679,025. The increase during last year was £3,152,936, and in 1929-30 it was £3.249,875. The record increase was £3,478,759, in 1928-29. The capital cost of lines in operation by the Railway Department shows an increase of £2,757,483, this sum representing, expenditure under the heading of “additions to. open lilies,” and the transfer-from the Public Works to the Railway Department of the AucklandWestfield deviation and part of the extension northward from Napier. As a result, the North Island main line system has increased during the year from 1413 to 1449 miles. The South Island main line system comprises 1626 miles, one mile - less than a year previously, and isolated sections complete the total of 322 miles.

The increase in -the capital cost of open lines in 1929-30 was £1,219,073, no audition to the mileage having been made in that year; in 1928-29 there was made the unprecedented increase of £5,381,222, one of several large items in that amount being the East Coast Main Trunk line.

Expenditure on both opened and unopened lines in the North Island amounts to £42,163,436, which, is £2,308,382 more than a year ago, and that in the South Island to £26,412,575, an increase o £.1,005,472. Miscel-' laueous items, including the Lake Wakatipu steamer. service, account for the balance of £103,014, this showing a decrease of. £160,918, chiefly in the department’s stock of permanent way material, which has been reduced from £123,104 to £1477. Following is a summary of the return showing the expenditure on the various divisions of the system: —

Total expenditure on the railways at March 31, 1'920, was just under £40,000,000. Nearly £11,000,000 were added in the next five years, and nearly £18,000,000 since 1925. Following is a summary for the last five years, showing the expenditure on opened and unopened lines; —

Expenditure on unopened lines was just over £3,000,000 in 1919; the total inct'eased annually until 1928, being reduced in the following year by the transfer of 107 miles of completed lines to the Railway Department. The total has again been increased to a new record. The return presents the actual cost. By legislation last year and again in this year’s special session,- the capital liability of the Railway Department has been reduced by £10,400,000 by the writing off of e ; ital.no longer represented by tangible assets.

THE TARANAKI DAILY NEWS, TUESDAY UNITED ACTION ROMAN MUMMY IN EUROPE : LABOUR DAILY’S ATTACK PUBLICITY FOR DOMINION CONFERENCE DRESS OF THE ROYAL PURPLE “S.O.iS. FROM NEW ZEALAND’ ’ CONCENTRATION CRITICISEI OVERHAUL OF THE BUDGET FIRST SUCH DISCOVERY REPORTED “FAILURE OF TORY NIEMEYERISM ’ “PROFITABLE FIELD NEGLECTED DECISIONS OF COMMITTEE JEWELS IN TOMB NEAR BUDAPEST FIRST REAL STOCKTAKING. VERY LITTLE KNOWN IN FRANC — JLEED TO AID PRODUCERS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Vienna, Aug. 23 ( For the first time in history a 1 mummy has been unearthed in Europe ] —a perfectly preserved woman’s body dressed in the Roman royal purple, proving her connection with the Impenal House. The discovery was made in a Roman tomb near Budapest. [ In the grave beside the mummy were a pot of rouge, a bowl of powder, three bottles of ecent and numerous jewels [including ivory hairpins';-, a bronze knit1 ting needle and a Roman coin indicating that the woman may have Jived about,225 A.D. . By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Aug. 24. With a front page streamer “SUS from Land of Propaganda,” the Laboui daily says: “How correct was 'this • paper's recent diagnosis of the fiuancia ■ and economic position in New Zealanc may be gauged by the cablegram fron Wellington published here oh Saturday Panic has seized the- Tory legislatioi in the land of Forbes and Coates. : “Since the Laboui - daily’s criticism 1 awakened the slumberous Dominion ..to • the realities there has been the first real stocktaking. Niemeyerism—the mere slashing. of earnings—lias failed even more dismally than in all other countries where the’ Otto blight has fallen. "For two years the New Zealand Tory press cloaked the perilous position there by drawing attention every day to the shocking example' of Australia. As the result of this slanderinn- of the Commonwealth, our securiBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Rotorua, Last Night. M. Joseph Major, a French journal! formerly of the staff of the Figaro, wl is.visiting Rotorua, in an interview t day said in France practically nothir was known of New Zealand. In M. Major’s opinion New Zcalan was neglecting a very profitable touris -field by concentrating its publicity o .Britain; French and other Continent, tourists would come to New Zealand i large number., if steps were taken t attract them. PARLIAMENT TO CONTINUE (By ;Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) . ?• . Wellington, Last Night. •The first meeting of the inter-party committee appointed to consider the firnancial position of the Dominion lasted two and a-half hours. It was a longer meeting than was expected as the comCOST OF RAILWAYS TRANSPORT CO-ORDINATION uiittee came to important decisions. * The committee has already discarded the suggestion that a separate committee of economists, hankers and other TOTAL NOW £68,679,000. THREE MILLIONS INCREASE. RAILWAY SERVANTS’ OPINIONS. experts should formulate a plan for rehabilitation, as .the parliamentarians hold the strong opinion that New Zealand’s position is completely dissimilar from that of Australia, where the ex- - ternalj. debt problem is of. such ■ outstanding importance and warranted the adoption of an economy policy extending oyer several years. Members of the New Zealand committee prefer to. hear the considered views of experts, who will he invited to attend the meet- I ings and . to put questions to them based on conditions as they exist in ■ New Zealand. j It is considered the problem for the I New Zealand Parliament to tackle is essentially an internal one, the outstanding feature being the impossibility ■of - large sections- of producers continuing. their operations while burdened with the present obligations for interest or rent. The State is closely concerned in this aspect owing to the large nuinber of Crown tenants who cannot meet their obligations to the Lands 1 Department out of the reduced realiea- | tions from wool. The first duty of the committee, which 1 it [ proposes to tackle on Tuesday, is to cross-question departmental heads I regarding their current estimates. The view was expressed by the Leader of the Opposition that the Customs revenue . estimate, for instance, might be regarded as tod optimistic, and tliatat would I he possible- for the. committee to ascertain frpm the head of the departmcnt'exactly how these had been framed and make similar investigations regarding other large revenue estimates. The committee will proceed farther than the Cabinet economy committee in exploring additional - possibilities of retrench- M ment on the current estimates expen- t diture. a By holding sittings of the House only P in the evenings members of the com- T mittee can'give undivided attention to | n its important business,and there is a S feeling that with concentrated effort v its work may be concluded within a P RESOLUTIONS AT WELLINGTON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■ Wellington; August 24. The Thorndon branch of the A.S.R.S. has passed the following resolutions:— “Inasmuch as the present conditions in the transport industry, involve grave hational waste and give rise to sweating , of a very gross character, members of this branch resolve that steps to rationalise the transport industry and bring it on . to a sound and proper-industrial basis are urgently necessary in- the interests of the Dominion as a whole. • “That the-continuance of the present chaotic competition is seriously jeopardising the welfare of thousands of transport workers, endangering the lives of the travelling public and hastening the disintegration of the transport industry, and therefore members of this branch are firmly and emphatically of • the opinion that as the Transport Bill provides machinery essential to enable; the situation to be dealt with speedily- and effectively the principle of national control contained in the Bill is worthy of the wholehearted support of all who have the interests of the country at ieart.” ties depreciated 25 to 35 per cent, below par, whi.e those of New Zealand have gone up to a premium of from £7 10s to £17 10s above par. Had the propaganda been the other way the prices would have been reversed in favour of Australia and against New Zealand.” Capital expenditure on the New Zea i land Railways, according to the annua return furnished by the Public Work Department, amounted at March 31 t< £68,679,025. The increase during las year was £3,152,936, and in 1929-30 i was £3.249,875. The record increase was £3,478,759, in 1928-29. The capital cost of lines in operatioi by the Railway Department shows ai increase of £2,757,483, this sum representing. expendit: ;e under the heading of “additions to. open If lies,” and. the transfer-from the Public Works to the Railway Department of the AucklandWestfield deviation and part of the extension northward from Napier. As a result, the North Island main line system has increased during the year from 1413 to 1449 miles. The South Island main line system comprises 1626 miles, one mile - less than a year previously, and isolated sections complete the total of : 322 miles. The increase in the capital cost of open lines in 1929-30 was £1,219,073, no audition to the mileage having been made in that year; in 1928-29 there was made the unprecedented increase of £5,381,222, one of several large items in that amount being the East Coast Main Trunk line. Expenditure on both opened and unopened lines in the North Island amounts to £42,163,436, which, is £2,308,382 more than a year ago, and that in the South Island to £26,412,575, an increase o £.1,005,472. Miscel-' laueous items, including the Lake Wakatipu steamer. service, account for the balance of £103,014, this showing a decrease of. £160,918, chiefly in the department’s stock of permanent way material, which has been reduced from £123,104 to £1477. Following is a summary of the return showing the expenditure on the various divisions of the system:— North Island— Opened. Unopened. £ £ Kaihu 193,176 — Gisborne 864,921 1,325,787 Main lines and branches 34,245,818 5,533,734 OBJECTIONS TO TARIFF CROCKERY AND EARTHENWARE. CONTENTIONS OF IMPORTERS. Alternatives to the Government’s tariff proposals are to be placed before members of Parliament on behalf of the Auckland importers of such goods as china, earthenware and linoleum. It is claimed that the alternatives would result in considerable more - revenue being raised and thus allow concessions to be made on individual items. It is suggested that such additional duties ie imposed as the Government deems necessary, but that the clauses be deleted by which these duties will be taken off after a definite period, so as to give the trade some security of tenure. The Government s urged to substitute a 2 per cent, general orimage over_the whole range of imports, loth "free” and dutiable, in place of the ! per cent, primage on “free” goods. Such a duty, it is claimed, would not anly raise considerably more revenue and allow a margin for concessions on other mods, but would maintain the existing rate f preference on British goods, and at the ame time the burden would be carried quitably by the whole community instead f solely by the primary producer and the econdary industries. The 2 per cent, primge, it is stated, would mot in any. way disicate trade or adversely react on other evenues. It could be taken off without otice when better times warranted it, ■ The 2 per cent, general primage in place : the 3 per cent, primage on “free” goods, is held, would enable all the small temorary duties under clauses 5, 7 and 8 to be iminated and still produce more revenue, he major- items under this schedule which re at present free, namely, china, earthenare, linoleum and gramophone records, mid be made dutiable, and permanently. WOOL MARKETS QUIET - EFFECT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS. TENDENCY TO MARK TIME. - By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. £ London, August 23. € The representative of the Australian 0 Vool Council, Mr; Devereux, reports s hat under the influence of the holidays ’ a nd the effect of 'the general economic 1< osition now under consideration by the r ritish’ Cabinet, the wool markets in n lost, centres are quiet. There is a eneral desire to mark time pending de- o elopments,' and. there have been few it rivate sale transactions at Bradford in p •ools for export to America. e Sales of tops to Germany during the T □rtnight have been small. Prices have a lightly eased, but this is always the w uietest month of the year and, in view c t the present financial stringency in errnany, nothing else could be expect1. In France the financial restrictions ave caused some trouble. Combers were ery.busy but prices of tops are somehat easier. Spinners are well employed a old contracts; but new business is fortnight or three weeks. Meanwhile " the financial .debate .is to continue, though the Minister of Finance does not propose to make any contribution s to it under the unusual circumstances, There are 1 the Transport Bill, the ® Licensing Amendment Bill dealing with ( the postponement of the triennial poll, e 35,303,915 6,859,521 South Island— Main lines and branches 23,186,938 SI6,229 Westport ...... 722,314 .497,826] Nelson .586,420 268,613 Picton 690,631 .243,604 GROUP SETTLEMENT the Earthquake Building. By-laws Bill, , the Trading Coupons Bill and a number r* ■of local Bills requiring attention, so | 7 . 25,186,303 1,226,272 Miscellaneous .. 54,936 .48,078 BUSINESS MEN’S SCHEME. that little time would be lost by the u arrangement which the committee has ° Total .. ...... 60,545,154 8,133,871

Opened. Unopened. Totals. £ £ £ 7927 . . 49,183.916' 6,844,561 56,028,477 1923 . . '51,187,376 7,610,082 58,797,458' 1929'. . 56,568,598 5,707,016 " 62,276,21'4' 1930 . .' 57,787,671 7,738,418' 65,526,089 1931 . . 60,545,154 ” 8,133,871 68,679,025