D.—2.

OPERATING REVENUE.

The following table shows the operating revenue under the main headings, together with appropriate comparisons with the previous year's figures. Information regarding receipts from subsidiary services and miscellaneous non-operating revenue appears later in this report.

With the exception of parcels traffic, which shows a small decline, the revenue under all heads has again shown a satisfactory increase, the variations compared with the previous year beingPassenger, 18-69 per cent, increase ; parcels, 1-24 per cent, decrease; goods, 7-28 per cent, increase ; and miscellaneous, 6-66 per cent, increase. The operating earnings per average mile open and per train-mile were as follow Per Average Per Mile open. Train-mile. £ d. 2,599 157 *31 The operating earnings for the last three years for the North and South Island Main Lines and Branches per average mile open and per train mile were as follow :—

PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

10

Amount, j ft Pe J. Ce " > t - of Operate Revenue. Variation 1040 ReVenUP - , with 1939. 1940. | 1939. I 1940. 1939. I I ! £ £ £ Per Cent. Passengers, ordinary .. .. 1,844,789 1,538,881 +305,908 19-88 21-05 19-22 Season tickets .. .. 274,546 246,765 + 27,781 11-26 3-13 3-08 Parcels, luggage, and mails .. 330,024 334,170 — 4,146 1-24 3-77 4-17 Goods .. .. .. 6,109,293 5,694,936 +414,357 7-28 69-73 71-15 Labour, demurrage, &c. .. 202,985 190,307 + 12,678 6-66 2-32 2-38 Total operating .. 8,761,637 8,005,059 +756,578 9-45 100-00 100-00

North Island Main Line and Branches. South Island Main Line and Branches. Per Average Mile j Per Train . mi]e . Per Average Mile j Per Train . mile . £ d. £ d. 1940 •• •• •• 3,544 151 - 41 1,934 166-66 1939 .. .. .. 3,287 140-48 1.841 156-94 1938 3,086 137-13 1,778 150-12

1940. 1939. Variation. Passenger journeys— Number. Number. Number. Per Cent Ordinary 8,283,067 7,813,436 + 469,631 6-01 Season 16,170,947 15,452,332 + 718,615 4-65 T °tal 24,454,014 23,265,768 +1,188,246 5-11 Revenue— £ £ £ Ordinary 1,844,789 1,538,881 + 305,908 19-88 Season .. .. .. .. 274,546 246,765 + 27,781 11-26 Total 2,119,335 1,785,646 + 333,689 18-69 Passenger train-miles .. .. 5,902,332 5,551,026 + 351,306 6-33 vehicle-miles .. .. 43,622,010 42,767,572 + 854,438 2-00 Revenue— Per mile of line operated .. .. £629 £540 + £89 16-48