RECORD REVENUE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20130, 27 December 1939, Page 5

RECORD REVENUE

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS PROGRESS OUTLINED MINISTER’S REVIEW (her Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A net revenue of approximately £.1,250,000, or the highest gross revenue in the history ol' the New Zealand railways, is anticipated by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in an outline of the operations of the Railways Department in 1939. Mr. Sullivan mentioned some of the principal achievements. “From the monetary point of view the year's working shows every indication of a record, much in excess of that earned in any previous year," said Mr. Sullivan. “The statement of accounts for the year ended March 31 last showed the gross earnings at £9.345,387, the first time in flic Dominion’s railway history that the £9.000,000 mark had been reached. “The gross revenue for the current year, ended March 31. 1940. would be greater still and was expected to exceed £10,214.000. Expenditure was estimated at £8.904.000 and the anticipated net revenue would be in the vicinity of £1,250,000. Napier-Waiioa Section "The calendar year now closing had been marked by many outstanding railway developments. On the traffic side the most important event of the year was the completion and opening in July last of the railway from Napier to Wairoa, 73 miles. “On (his line steam trains are run exclusively for goods, and standard railcars are used for passengers. It is the first railway in New Zealand to be free from the cumbersome mixed train. “A pleasing feature of this new line 'is that already it has proved its worth to the community, and a recent weekly revenue of more than £IOOO, which is steadily increasing, is proof of the Government’s wisdom in proceeding with the completion of this railway.

"The manufacture at the Hiitt and Hillside workshops respectively of several ‘K’ and 'J' class steam locomotives has enabled the department to provide more powerful traction for the haulage of longer and heavier trains. The use of these new locomotives has improved the service to the public and has effected economies in train running costs. Modern Bower Units "The manufacture at the Hutt Valley workshops of nine electric locomotives, of which two are for the Otira-Arthur’s Pass section and seven are for the Wellinglon-Paekakarik.i service, is nearing completion and these modern power units should be in commission early in 1940. “Fourteen new shunting tractors also have been brought into use in country areas during the year. "Sixty-six carriages, a number of which are equipped with air-condi-tioning apparatus, three railcars, and 1757 wagons have been built at the department’s workshops, thus provid ing additional and improved accommodation for passengers, goods and livestock.

"The most outstanding performance in connection with permanent way structures has been the erection of a new bridge, 5720 ft. long, the longest railway bridge in New Zealand, over the Rakaia River in Canterbury. Other new bridges on existing lines completed during the year were the Wniwakaiho bridge near New Plymouth'. the Waipawa bridge in Hawke's Bay, a bridge over the Rangitato, between Timaru and Ashburton. and some smaller structures.