THE RAILWAYS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18763, 30 December 1930, Page 8

THE RAILWAYS.

DECEMBER RETURNS. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 29. 'a lie preliminary acounts of the Railway Department for the four weeks ended December 6, according to an announcement by the Ron. W. A. Veitch to-day, show a substantial decrease in expenditure, amounting to £76,000. This applies to railway operation only, the figures relating to subsidiary services not yet being available. As a result of economies throughout the service, the reduction in the operating cost for the last five fourweekly periods amounted to £295,000. This substantial saving, said the Minister, has occurred in all branches. Unfortunately, however, the revenue still continues to show a steady decline, the receipts for the December period falling below those of last year by £/%,000. This was not altogether unexpected, as the revenue over the last four months has shown a tendency to fall away, due in the main to the prevailing financial depression. Passenger traffic showed a decrease for the four weeks of £28,000, parcels and mails £4OOO, and goods receipts declined £38,000. General merchandise shows a heavy decrease, which is ascribed to restricted imports.