RAILWAY RETURNS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 345, 28 January 1937, Page 6

RAILWAY RETURNS

Anticipated Revenue Increase For The Year. Press Association—Copyright. Blenheim, Last Night. Returns for the four-weekly period ended January 2 were announced tonight by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, after his arrival at Picton from Willington to commence a tour of the railways of the South Island. For the current financial year to the date mentioned he said the railways revenue- had increased by £575,417, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. “Notwithstanding the serious loss of passenger revenue as a result of the infantile paralysis epidemic, estimated at £40,000 during the Christmas period,” the Minister stated, “indications are that the budget increase in revenue for the year, £691,000 will be exceeded by approximately £25,000. But for the unfortunate epidemic the budget revenue figure would probably have been exceeded by at least £lOO.OOO. “A careful review of the expenditure of all branches,” he continued, “shows that the budget figure will probably be exceeded by about - £25,000, leaving the nett revenue as budgeted. The £886,000 expenditure on operating accounts should not exceed the budget figure, the excess expenditure mentioned being mainly due to the expansion of our road motor services.’ OUR MECHANISED AiRMY. A military movement performed in a city recently, although it was robbed of the glamour of bright uniforms and prancing steeds, attracted the attention of persons on the footpath by the noise that was made. It was merely the movement of two field guns and their limbers l from one point to another and the noise came partly from their iron shod wheels and partly from the small tractor that was towing .them.