RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1927, Page 7

RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

FEWER PASSENGERS. DECLINE OF OVER A MILLION. Aproximately nine months’ figures for the current financial year disclose that the number of passengers carried on the railways since Ist April last is over a million less than the number carried in the corresponding pel tod in 1925-26. With the exception of timber, satisfactory increases are shown in Hi • number of cattle, sheep, and pigs, ami of other goods transported. The period taken officially for purposes of comparison is Ist April, 1926, to Bth January, 1927 —283 days. The comparative figures for the corresponding period of the previous year cover 277 days. Passengers carried during the 192627 period totalled 7,656,395, as against 5,719,489 during the shorter period m the previous year. The decrease of 1,063,130 comprised 174,570 first-class passengers and 611,794 second-class passengers. Season tickets were sold up to Bth January last to the number of 438,3577 —5659 less than in 1926. The increase in the number of cattle carried was 678,020, and in goods 93,432 tons, and the timber tonnage was 72,084 tons less. The working account shows a decline m the profit on the railways during the 1926 period as compared with 1925 amounting to about £50,000. The revenue actually increased from £5.783,686 in the 1925 period to £5.936,099 in 1926, while expenditure also increased from £4,787,019 to £4,988,490. The profits were thus £947,509 and £996,667 for the 1926 and 1925 periods respectively, a falling-off of £19,158. With a view to co-ordinating the I operations of the commercial activities of the Department, a conference of the business agents of the Railway Department was opened in Wellington yesterday by the Acting-Minister of Railways (the Hon. F. J. Rolleston).