D.—2.

MAINTENANCE OF WAY AND WORKS. I he sum of £1,468,268 was expended under this head during the year, an increase over the expenditure for the previous year of £92,439 (6-72 per cent.). Included in the expenditure this year is an amount ol £4j,253 covering the cost of labour engaged in order to assist in relieving unemployment. Last year expenditure of this nature was recovered by way of a subsidy which was not available this year. Increased expenditure was incurred in the year under review in connection with repairs to damage caused by unprecedently heavy flooding on various sections of the system. Taking 1926 as the standard, and fixing the index figure for that year at 100 for the expenditure on maintenance of way and works and the average mileage of line maintained, the following summary shows the position over the past five years :— rn , n . 1928. 1936. 1937. 1938. 1939. 1940. total expenditure ..100 94 102 112 120 128 Average mileage of line .. 100 104 104 105 105 107 MAINTENANCE OF SIGNALS AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. 1ll<! expenditure amounted to £197,949, as against £186,546 last year, an increase of £11,403 (>• per cent.). The transfer of stalf from capital works to maintenance duties, increased depreciation charges, and the _ carrying-out of special work in connection with the Department's exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition were the principal reasons for the increased expenditure. MAINTENANCE OF ROLLING-STOCK. The expenditure under this head amounted to £1,896,366, an increase of £63,751 (3-48 per cent.) ( o.fipare with, the pievious year. The increase is mainly due to heavier engine-repair charges and increased rates of pay to tradesmen. n . R Locomotive Repairs.—Expenditure on locomotive repairs was £822,598, an increase of £57,097 j ? er co ? t -)- tlu 3 increase, workshops repairs accounted for £23,283, depot repairs for £10,054, and depreciation charges for £18,463. The following table shows the cost of maintenance per locomotive and per locomotive-mile over a period of five years :—•

Maintenance of Carriages, Vans, and Wagons.—The maintenance of carriages and vans entailed an expenditure of £363,452, an increase of £12,649 (3-61 per cent.) compared with the preceding year Increased depreciation charges largely account for the increased expenditure. The following table shows the cost of maintenance of cars and vans per vehicle and per vehiclemile over a period of live years :—

_ The total cost of repairing wagons was £684,219, compared with £689,495 last year, a decrease of £5,276 (0-77 per cent.). The following table shows the number of wagons repaired in' Workshops compared with the preceding year : — TT . 1940. 1939. Heavy repairs .. .. .. .. ..14,342 15 158 Light repairs 5>371 5163 Total •• •• •• •• .. 19,713 20,321 The cost of maintenance per vehicle and per vehicle-mile for wagons was as under (five-vear period)^

15

Cost per Locomotive. Cost per Locomotive-mile. 1936. 1937. | 1938. 1939. | 1940. 1936. | j 1938. | 1939. 1940. £ £ f £ £ <1- d. d. d. d 1,016 1,117 1,228 1,350 1,312 9-42 9-61 9-82 10-31 10-85

Cost P er Vehicle. Cost per Vehicle-mile. 1936. | 1937. 1938. | 1939. 1940. 1936. | 1937. | 1938. | 1939. " 1940. r £ £ £ £ £ d. d. d. d. d 139 156 184 175 181 1-70 1-82 2-06 1-95 2-00

Coat per Vehicle. Cost per Vehicle-mile. 1936. | 1937. | 1938. | 1939. 1940. 1936. 1937. | 1938. J 1939. 1940. £ £ £ £ £ (1. d, <] j J 20 22 26 24 23 0-09 0-72 0-77 0-75 0-75