RAILWAY RETURNS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 5

RAILWAY RETURNS.

POSITION SATISFACTORY.

STATEMENT BY HON. W. H. HERRIES.

THE ISLANDS COMPARED. Tlio railways returns for tlio past year were interestingly roviowed by the Hon. W.. H. Berries (Minister for Kailw'ays) in tlio oourso of nil interview-,' with, a Dominion representative last evening. • a m glad to say," remarked tlio Minister, ' that tlio railways during; the year ended March 31, l'Jl3, liavo given .exceedingly good returns; tlio approximate interest earned on the capital invested being ill Os. Bd. per cent. This may be } an «l a littlo wlien the lull figures como in, but will not vary moro than a penny or two either way. This is not quite a record, as in 1911 the interest earned was •W Is. 3d., but it is the second best return in the history of tlio Dominion railways. The revenue exceeded the estimate by .iiHG.OOI, but the expenditure also exceeded the estimate by i:158,1G3, and tlio percentage of expenses to earnings has increased from 07.07 per cent, last year to US.I 3 per cent. Various circumstances liavo caused this, which I liopo to deal with in tlio ltailway Statement. The Estimates wero framed on a calculation that tho percentage would bo 68 per cent., and in actual practico it lias turned out a little more. This percentage, largo though it is, does not equal that of a few years back, such as 1909, when it v.-as 72.19 per cent., and 1908, when it was 70.59 per cent. It is to bo remarked, too, that the percentage has been increasing in the other States of Australasia. With regard to tho two great main lines of the Dominion, tho North Island Main lino and branches, and the South Island Main lino and brandies, I am glad to say that the South Island Main line shows a distinct improvement, but the North Island Main lino shows a falling oft', and it is this falling off that has caused mo such anxiety, and has compelled me, much against my will, to reduce services that were not paying, and which wero to n largo extent responsible for tho falling off. Take tho interest on tlio cost of construction:—

North Island South Island Main Line. Main Line. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1912 4.19 7 3 2 0 1913 . 4 17 5 3 8 10 showing a very hopeful increase in the South Island lino. "But it is in the net rcvenuo per train mile that the greatest difference is shown:— North Island South Island Main Line. Main Line. £ B - d - ' £ 6 • d--1912 0 2 10i 0 2 GJ !913 0 t 7j 0 2 9£

"Tlio South Island Main line shows a decided increase, whilo the North, Island main lino 6hows a decided fall and when wo find that thero wero run 499,951 train iniles more on tho North Island main line and branches than in tho previous year (of which the socontl express forms a considerable portion), while 107,370 mow train miles vfero run on tho South Island main lino and branches, it becomes obvious that many of tho trains run, especially in tho North Island, wero distinctly of a non-paying character. Tlioso of a suburban character, no doubt, will pay their way in a short time, and induce town dwellers to scttlo in tho country, and so bring traffic eventually to tho railways. That being so, I do not thinV it wiso to curtail these services, especially as these extended suburban services were instituted by my' predecessor, and I want to give them every chance. Net revenue per averago mile open:—■ North Island South Island Main Line. Main Line. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1912 . 007 10 7 303 2 2 1913 000 12 0 340 19 10 ~

Hero the South Isldnd lino shows an improving tone, whilo tho North Islahd lino is practically stationary. Percentage of expenses to revenue:— North Island South Island Main Line. Main Line. 1912 G5.22 70.95 1913 G7.91 G'J.7l "Here, I am glad to eay, tho South Island main lino shows a decrease, but tho North Island main line, following on the heavy increase in tho train mileage, naturally shows a largo increase. I think to any unprejudiced observer it will bo obvious that the expenditure on tho North Island main lino requires carel'ul watching. Ilenco I felt it advisable during tho winter months to tako off tho second express, which was put on in tho beginning as an experiment. I intend to put it on again early in tho spring, and trust that it will bo better patronised than it was during last year. If during the winter months any rush of traffic comes on, cither the present express can bo strengthened or a special express can bo run an hour afterwards as is dono at holiday time. As the South Island main lino 'returns indicated a buoyant teudoncy, it did not seem 'to mo right to deprive the users of tlio railway on that line of privileges they havo enjoyed for many years, though I am advised that a considerable saving could bo mado if an alteration were made. It would, however, mean considerably greater' dislocation of trains than in tho caso of tho North Island main line, on account of tho number of branch lines that connect with either one or other of tlio expresses. In the caso of tho North Island main line there aro practically no branches, or what are, such as tho Kotorua line, havo their own services. A whole new timc-tablo for tho South Island would havo to bo drafted il' only tho one real express, that, is, tho one from Christchurch to Invcrcargill, wero to bo tho only ono running, and great inconvenience would bo causcd to thoso living on the branch lines, especially between Dunedin and Invcrcargill. "The Now Zealand Railways are often abused, but I believo thoro are fow railways south of (ho lino that could, on a singlo line, havo handled tho adulta and schoolchildren visiting H.JI.S. New Zealand to well, and havo dono it without as far as I know a hitch or an accident, and I think both tho head oflieo and tho subordinate district officers aro deservof the greatest credit for successfully tackling what really was a formidable proposition."