LAST WITNESS HEARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 375, 8 June 1928, Page 13

LAST WITNESS HEARD

Transport Commission Concluding

COUNSEL’S ADDRESSES TO-DAY

THE sitting of the Transport Commission concludes to-day. Yesterday the last witness was heard when Mr. E. Casey submitted evidence relating to railway suburban traffic. This afternoon counsel’s addresses will be heard and it is expected that they will be brief and should conclude before the commission’s usual time for adjournment.

Continuing: his evidence before the Transport Commission yesterday afternoon, Mr. E. Casey, Xorth Island Divisional Superintendent of KTew Zealand Railways, said a report was now beingprepared on the electrification of suburban lines. Mr. Goodman: It is usual to talk of electrification 10 years before any definite move is made. Witness said that further drastic improvements would b© affected when the Auckland-Westfield deviation was completed within the next two years. Comparative revenue figures for 1924, 1926 and 198 were submitted by witness:

UNDERGROUND RAILWAY After hearing Mr. Casey’s explanation of the proposed under-city railway to Morningside, the commissioners asked when the scheme would be undertaken “I cannot speak with a fore-know-ledge of the state of the exchequer,” said Mr. Casey, “but, to the best of my knowledge, it is proposed to go on with the scheme after the completion of the Auckland-Westfield deviation. The new north line deviation is not purely a suburban proposition, but is intended to give a better through connection along the whole of the north line.” In view of the competition witness thought the railways were holding their suburban patronage on the north line very well. The round-about route through Newmarket Junction to the

city from the north caused many people to alight at Mount Eden and use other transport to the city. To Mr. Northcroft, witness said he considered the main reason why workers used the trains instead of other services was not primarily because the rail was cheapest, but because it was safest. (La.ughter.)

ORDINARY PASSENGERS. 1924 1926 192S £ £ Auckland . 242,404 277,798 254,796 Newmarket. . 13,767 13,553 10,369 Mt. Eden .. 6,421 5,820 5.011 Avondale 8,510 4,369 3,361 Henderson 7,664 7,489 4,596 Rerauera 505 103 117 Green Lane . 2,384 515 502 Ellerslie 3,990 1,253 1,409 Penrose .. 2,291 1,089 817 Onehunga .. 1,381 657 607 Otahuliu 9,622 4,699 Papatoetoe . 5,372 3,849 1,195 Papakura . 13,048 13,367 Totals . . £318,359 £334,561 £292,293 SEASON TICKETS. £ £ £ Auckland 24,029 25,299 25,260 Newmarket . 2,134 2,503 2,440 Mt. Eden .. 1,272 1,148 931 Avondale 7,618 7,048 6,908 3,168 5,191 4,729 Remuera 1,439 1,020 1,057 Green Lane . 2,639 1,453 1,516 3,108 2,411 2,685 Penrose 1,166 1,133 1,015 Onehunga 2,263 1,609 1,520 3,755 3,983 3,507 Papatoetoe . 1,922 3,031 3,633 Papakura .. 2,695 4,766 4,878 Totals £57,208 £60,595 £60,079 Grand totals £375,567 £395,156 £352,372