RAILWAY ECONOMICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 70

RAILWAY ECONOMICS.

WELLINGTON, August 23. I "It appears to me to be unnecessary in many cases to provide a daily goods service "for all the small wayside stations in New Zealand," remarked the Hon. Mr Millar, Minister of Railways, to a New Zgaland Times reporter. " A considerable saving can be effected by fixing some of these services at so many days per week. ! At present goods are consigned to small flag stations whenever they are received. Perhaps a ton of goods goes out in a 10-ton, truck, which , waits four or five days at the small station. Thus, our tracks are not earning to their full capacity ; but by fixing certain days for , delivery of goods at these small stations we will not only be able to place more trucks at the disposal of railway "users, but we will be able by eliminating the stops to expedite the running of mixed trains. Under present conditions time has to be allowed for a stop and possible shunting at each station, with the result ] that we have such an undesirable state of affairs as exists on the Auckland to Helensville line, where there are 21 stops in 30 miles, and the train Jakes nearly tliree hours to cover the distance. By I setting apart two or three days per week for the delivery of goods at the small stations, I \ anticipate that a considerable saving will be effected, without causing inconvenience. lam getting a report from each district manager upon the subject, specifying the flag stations and the number of days necessary to provide an adequate service during the week. As coon as this information has been secured I will commence the new system." The Minister gave an indication of how the ■various ecooemjes already effected are working out. An increase of £143,000 is shown in. the- railway revenue for the four months from April 1 to July 24, and this has been secured for an increased expenditure of £73,000, or about 50 per cent, of the extra revenue. Such, a result is in the highest degree satisfactory, as the period covered is almost the worst during the year. The North Island Main Trunk and Manawatu lines did not come into the previous year's figures. [