OUR RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 7

OUR RAILWAYS.

.POINTS FROM THE STATEMENT

INCREASED PROFITS.

Tho actual, earnings pf the New land Railways for thft year ending March 81, 1913, exceedod tho estimato by £220,002, and the earnings of tho preceding year by £294.493. Total earnings, £3,971,002. Total expenditure, £2,705,009. Net profit on[ working, £1,265,393. k Tlio net rovenuo is equal to a return' of 4.04 per cent, on opened lines (as against 8.98 in tho preceding year), and) 8.74 per cent, on opened and unopened lines. Tho net return is the highest but one recorded. i

The average iato running of longdistance passenger trains Eind mixed trains was reduced, There was a increaso in the average late running of suburban trains.

Passengers carried numbered 15,123,-j 879, an increase of 1,232,745 over tha

previous year. ' I The striko acoounteij for a heavy falling off in Bheep traffic. | Fifty-two miles of new lino were open, cd during the year, and 104 miles of track were relaid.

l'assongcr revonuo shows an increase of £128,514; Beason tickets, £14,244;: coaching traffic, £11,875; goodß and livo) stock, £124,902; miscellaneous rents' and conimissions, £14,958. Tho earnings per train mile in ther' North Island declined from Bs. 4d. tor Bs. lid. . . . ; those of tho South Island increased from Bs. 9Jd. to 9s. 2jjd. Interest on capital earned by tho North Island Main Line and branches receded from £4 19s. 7d. per cent, to £4 17s. 6d., while that earned by the Soutkj Island main line aiul branches advanced* from £3 2s. per cent, to £3 Bs. Control of the Hutt Koad is to btf vested in the Wellington City Council.

Rolling-stock under order: 44 locomotives, 108 cars, 27 brake-vans, 113 bogie wagons, and 1475 four-wheeled wagons.

Two motor-cars for use on the railways have beeii ordered, and will bs placed in commission on arrival. - A system of through booking of fruit and fish, established as an experiment, • was poorly patronised, and did not pay. Amended regulations are to be issued shortly amending tho conditions as to leavo of ab&etico and travelling allows ances. ' Provision is to bo made for the issuo of a privilege ticket to a superanuu-J nted membor of tho railway eervico and' his wife once a month. Members of the Scoond Division ara to be enabled to qualify for transfer to tho First Division. j Safety automatic appliances aro to bo' installed at dangerous crossings, tlio' interests of tho State boing safeguarded) by legislation in respect of occasional' failures in tho appliances. Tho Minister affirms tho policy of running trains in excess of immediate requirements in order to develop the country and induco settlement. Booking-offices are to bo established in each of tlio four chief centres at wliich passengers may purchase tickets on tho day or tlio day before they, travel.

Parcels and passengers' luggage arcf to bo collected and delivered at each ofi, tho four centres, and luggage is to bo; convoyed between tho ferry steamer* and tho Wellington stations. Tho system of "cash on delivery 1 • parcels is to bo inaugurated. , . A. report on the question of shunting is to bo laid before Parliament shortly, and steps, will bo taken to minimiso tho risks incurred by shunters. ; The Minister predicts continued prosperity, and estimates the revenue for tho year ending March 31, 1914, at £4,200,000, aJid tho expenditure at> £2,931,250.