INCREASED REVENUE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 12

INCREASED REVENUE

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT RETURNS. NEW PLYMOUTH’S GOOD YEAR Substantial increases in passenger, goods and parcels traffic at the New Plymouth railway station are disclosed in the annual returns of traffic for last financial year. Despite interruptions and exclusion of the busy Easter period, 193435 was an excellent year for the Railway Department at New Plymouth. The total revenue was £144,125 this year, compared with £127,750 last year, an increase of £16,375. Outward passengers increased by 3154, from 45,627 to 48,781. The line to Auckland, which during the year met with increased popularity, and the extended series of successful excursions were both good contributors to- the increased revenue and passenger traffic. No record is kept at New Plymouth of the inward passenger traffic.

The total amount of goods carried increased from 176,524 tons to 190,588 tons, a gain of 14,064 tons. The outward freight was 91,496 tons in 1934-35, compared with 84,830 tons in the previous period, and the inward goods were 99,092 tons, compared with 91,695 tons, an increase of 7398 tons.

In the carriage of stock there was, however, a decrease totalling 1434 head. The total number of stock carried was 14,660, compared with 16,094 in the previous year. Sheep carried were 11,621 head, compared with 12,291 head in the previous year, and cattle 3039, compared with 3803. The detailed returns are:—

Commenting on the return, the stationmaster, Mr. W. G. Stewart, said: “In passenger traffic the year ending in March, 1934, had the advantage of one and a half Easter periods, while this year there is no Easter traffic included in the returns. If the Easter traffic due next week had been included a much greater increase of nearly £lOOO in revenue would have been shown.”

Mr. Stewart also pointed out that the Government Tourist Office had taken over passengers previously dealt with by the Railway Department. This year about £9OO worth of business was handled by the Tourist Office as against much less than £lOO when the office started in 1933. Parcels traffic, of which detailed figures were not given, had also shown a gratifying increase. Mr. Stewart interpreted the figures as indicative of a decided return to the railways. Further, railway wages, which last year amounted to £32,000, circulated in the town, and local carriers derived direct benefit from the railway shipments.

OUTWARD. 1934-35 1933-34 Increase Revenue . £55,916 £52.047 £3,869 Passengers 48,781 45,627 3,154 Goods (tons? 91,496 84,830 6,666 Cattle .... 1,316 1,952 636* Sheep .... 287 516 229* •Decrease. INWARD. 1934-35 1933-34 Increase Revenue . £87,309 £75,645 £11,664 Goods (tons) 99,092 91,694 7,398 Cattle .... 1,723 1,851 128* Sheep .... 11,334 11,775 441* •Decrease. TOTALS. 1934-35 1933-34 Increase Revenue . £144,125 £127,750 £16,375 Goods .... . 190,588 176,524 14,064 Cattle .... 3,039 3,803 764* Sheep .... 11,621 12,291 670* •Decrease