RAILWAY RETURNS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1924, Page 1

RAILWAY RETURNS.

SEPARATING THE ACCOUNTS CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. Reference to the first Railways Statement was made by the president of the Caterlniry Progress League (Air <l. H. Black well) at last night’s meeting of the executive. lle congratulated the .Minister on the policy he had outlined, and took exception to the forecast of future loss on the Otira lute, fit this latter connexion he said that the Otira figures had been analysed in the statement, but the figures for tho Cliristehurli-Lyttelton line had not been available when applied for by the League, the Department's reply being to the effect that the line was an integral part of the railway system, and as such would not he separated from the general railway figures. Air F. Thompson asked leave to draw attention to the General .Manager’s statement regarding the Otira line. lie said that il seemed strange that the Department could not give them the traffic figures for the Lyttelton line, while it had found it possible to do so in connection with the Otira tunnel. Ho had had experience of such things, and knew that there were means of separating the returns on separate lines. He suggested that the organiser he asked In apply for further information regarding the traffic on the Lyttelton line.

Air W. K. MrAlpine said that lie did not think Ihe Minister laid put the Otira tunnel figures fairly, having quoted figures for only eight miles ol the line. If the .Minister wits going to quote those figures, the speaker would ask him to quote some ol the losses on some of the other lines. Mr Ale Alpine said that the success of tile Otira line was exceeding till expectations. The August figures showed something over ]3( 10 tons a day, and that showed that the line was well on its way to becoming a paying proposition. A motion on the lines of Mr Thompson’s suggestion was adopted.