Dominion Railways.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1922, Page 1

Dominion Railways.

PROFIT FOR YEAR £405,804. PAYING WEST-COAST LINES. WELLINGTON, May 12. The railway working account for the year ended March 31st. last, as published in fast night’s “Gazette” shows that the revenue exceeded the expenditure by £403,864 as compared with £2,271,931 for the -previous year. The North Island lines yielded a profit for the year’s working of £517,428, but tie an offset against this, the maintenance of the South Island services resulted in a loss of £111,504. The only branches of the South Island system which paid their way were those in Westland and Westport districts, the deficits occurring principally on the main line anff side-lines. In the North Island, the Whangarci line produced a loss of £IO,OOO. The results of the year’s working are shown in detail as follows: LAST YEAR-.

Railway working account, showing revenue and expenditure to the termination of March 31st, 1922:

Grand total 6,908,531 5,036.600 FIGURES PER MILE OF LINE. On the North Island main lines and branches the revenue per mile worked out at £3139 11s 4d, and the expenditure per mile £2977 13s Pd. On the other lines the revenue and expenditure per mile were, respectively, as follows:—Whangnrei, £877 10s, £lOlO. 17s (id; Knihu, £195 7s lid, £542 11s; Gisborne, £903 5s Sd, £786 8s 4d. In the South Island the futures worked out asunder:—Main lines and branches, £1569 13s lid, £1667 10s Sd; Westland, £l2Ol 15s 7d, £lll7 5s 2d; Westport, £3207 Os 6d, £2377 5s 2d ; Nelson, £462 Is 2d, £598 9s Id; Picton, £774 2s Sd. £BIO 14s Od. PASSENGER DECREASES.

Traffic decreased from 15,315,640 in 1921 to 14,262,440 in 1922, by 1,053200 passengers. The falling-off applied both to first-class and second-class passengers, and in single and return trips. There was an increase in the number of season ticlcefs sold from 464,691 to 472,865. Increases were shown in the number of sheep and pigs handled, but in respect to cattle, there was a decline of about 100,000.

NORTH ISLAND. Revenue Expenditure. Whangarei 70,19!) 80,870 Kailm 9,907 10,851 Gisborne 14,200 33,534 North Island Alain lines and brandies 3,897,030 3,373,716 Total 4,021.390 3,503,971 SOUTH ISLAND. South Island main lines and branehes 2,238.023 2,377,*517 Westland 189,130 175,409 Westport 113,452 85.581 Nelson 28,194 36,505 Piet-on 43,351 45,401 ,Lako W a k a t i p u steamers 8,019 13,339 Total 2,622,191 2,733,754 Grand total 0,643,590 6,237,726 PREVIOUS YEAR. Revenue. Expenditure. Whangarei 69,251 69,792 TCailni 9,133 10,418 Gisborne 47.304 40.789 North Island Alain lines and brandies 4,009,296 3,005,399 Total 4,134,983 3,126,400 SOUTH ISLAND. South Island Alain lines and bran.2.156,171 dies'....7r 2,383,222 AVestland 196,500 171,067 Westport 101,507 83,703 Nelson 40,928 40,440 Picton 42,397 31,159 Lake W ak ati p u steamers 8,989 10,458 Total 2.773,545 2,510,200