RAILWAY RECORD

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1929, Page 6

RAILWAY RECORD

LAST YEAR’S GOODS TRAFFIC. Tho goods traffic on the New Zealand railways for the year ended March SI boat the previous highest record -by 300,000 tons. The actual total weight handled was 7,000,000 tons, while the passenger journeys increased in the same period by 200,01)0. “Naturally this improvement in the quantity of business handled has not conic by mere chance, icmarhs the general manager (Hr H. H. Sterling) in a message to the railway staff. “Some of it has been due to the good season for primary . pioducts, but much of the increase can be traced directly to special methods adopted io create new traffic and attract previously existing business to the rail. . . • "But the most ini-

portant of all in building up business has been the spirited manner in which the stall - generally have responded to the opportunities afforded for making the service pleasing to clients, and their keen"ess in watching for chances to scc’uv" traffic.” On the expenditure sic V-. the manager admits that the resul: ■ are not so favourable, due, he --"ilains, mainly to the Department - ’'ing over, during the year, many mi,.- 'f new’track that have been unable. • '

the outset of their operations, to furnish a return equivalent to the general average of the lines previously opened. Expenses incidental -throughout tho Dominion to the change-over period from the new workshops have also been heavy; highly competitive conditions have made the securing of trafficmore cost-'y, and .improved train services have, added to transpoit expenditure. “Wc can but palliate their effects, and the results as above indicated show that our efforts in this direction have not, by any means, been in vain.” A reminder that railway capital expenditure has to continue at a fairly heavy rate is proided by the Prime 1 Milnisfiteps .announcement; that the business included the- approval of expenditure' of £30,000 for reorganisation of Hillside railway workshops reorganisation scheme. >aSnd £60,000 for the new railway '' station-' and yard, Auckland.. .