D.—2

MILEAGE OF LINES OPEN FOR TRAFFIC The mileage of lines open for traffic at 31st March, 1943, was 3,459 miles 63 chains, being an increase of 69 miles 69 chains over the figure for the preceding year. The increased mileage is due to the Railways Department taking over the sections between Kirikopuni and Dargaville, between Waikokopu and Gisborne, and between Wharanui and Clarence. Details of the additions and adjustments made during 1942-43 are shown hereunder M. Ch. Mileage of track open for traffic, 31st March, 1942 .. .. 3,389 74 Mileage opened for traffic during 1942-43 — M. Ch. Kirikopuni-Dargaville .. . . .. 18 55 Waikokopu-Gisborne .. .. .. .. 35 27 Wharanui-Clarence .. .. .. 19 35 73 37 Less adjustments at Dargaville and Kirikopuni .. 3 48 69 69 Mileage of line open for traffic as at 31st March, 1943 .. .. 3,459 63 CAPITAL ACCOUNT On the 31st March, 1943, the capital invested in the lines open for traffic and subsidiary services was £68,685,063. This represents an increase of £3,781,043, as compared with the previous year. RENEWALS, DEPRECIATION, AND EQUALIZATION RESERVE FUNDS The position with regard to the renewals, depreciation, betterments, and equalization accounts is as under:—

RAILWAY OPERATION The results of railway operation (excluding subsidiary services and miscellaneous non-operating revenue) on the various sections for the year ended 31st March, 1943, were as under:—

OPERATING REVENUE The following tabic 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.

5

Credit Balance r, , Credit Balance Account. brought forward C '?J u ]!. ons ' x ]^ n ) re ' at 31st March, from 1942. lU4Z ~ 4d ' 194<i-4d. 1943 £ £ £ £ Renewals (track) .. .. .. 687,661 443,723 186,297 945,087 Depreciation .. .. .. .. 1,433,952 1,015,062 482,401 1,966,613 Betterments .. .. .. .. 5,966 13,000 334 18,632 Slips, floods, and accidents .. .. 26,104 19,521 .. 45,625 Workers'compensation .. .. .. 59,599 59,831 61,731 57,699 Insurance .. .. .. .. 91,435 8,463 15,176 84,722 - 2,304,717 1,559,600 745,939 3,118,378

Section. Revenue. Expenditure. Net Revenue. £ £ £ North Island Main Line and Branches .. 8,161,259 6,306,127 1,855,132 South Island Main Line and Branches .. 4,170,356 3,628,250 542,106 Nelson .. .. .. .. .. 16,282 24,328 —8,046 Picton .. .. .. .. .. 67,183 60,954 6,229 12,415,080 10,019,659 2,395,421

Amount. n Per Cent, of o P , rali „ g n™„. V ™;K"J 3 r B with 1942. 1943. 1942. 1943. j 1942. I £ £ £ Per Cent. Passengers, ordinary .. .. 3,351,832 2,335,907+1,015,925 43-49 27-00 22-49 Season tickets .. .. .. 358,677 322,871 -}- 35,806 11-09 2-89 3-11 Parcels, luggage, and mails .. 397,142 325,897 + 71,245 21-86 3-20 3-14 Goods 8,044,563 7,174,060+ 870,503 12-13 64-80 69-09 Labour, demurrage, &c. .. 262,866 225,145+ 37,721 16-75 2-11 2-17 Total operating .. 12,415,080 10,383,880+2,031,200 19-56 100-00 100-00