THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 86, 28 August 1912, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

IMPORTANT PROBLEMS. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. THE FINANCIAL POSITION. APPOINTMENT OP A MANAGER. By Telegraph—Own Correspo»iant. Wellington, Last Night. the railways statement for the year ending March 31 l as t was presented to iarliament this afternoon by the Minister (the Hon. W. H. Herries). The earnings, says the Minister, exceeded tlioso of the previous year by £lB2 327 and are the highest yet obtained in'the hwtory of the railways of the Dominion, the results may be summarised thus-p-i ;,i^°, 1 ' 11 cu ™ in « B » £3,070,509; 1011. £..f,4J4,152. Total expenditure (19P>) £2,450,5! m; (1911) £2,303,272. Net pro it on working (1012), £1,210,613; (1J 1 , £1,190,9ia The net revenue ( £i,210,0J3) is equal to a return of 3.98 per cent, on the capital invested in the open lines, and 3.70 per cent, on the capital (£32,089,170) invested in opened and unopened lines. The number of passengers carried was 11,891,134, an increase of 000,521 over the previous year. Jhe average number of men employed was 13,523, against 12.881 for the previous year. The amount spent on new and improved machinery for the workshops wa.s £27.405. COMPREHENSIVE "SUMMARY. SITUATION AT A GLANCE. The particulars for the years ended March 31, 1911 and 1012, are:-Total miles open for traffic, 2761 and 2808average miles open for the year, 2742 and 2801; capital cost of opened and unopened lines, .131,1309,000 and £32,08),J79; capital co«t of open lines, £29,60f,,u4C and £30,606,089; capital cost per ' mile of open lines, £10,723 and £10,804gross earnings, £3,494,182 and £3,076.509; working expenses, £2,303,272 and £2,400,890; net profit on workin" £1,190,920 and £1.210,013; per centage' of profit to capital invested, 4.06 an<l 3.98; per centage of working expenses to earnings, 65.92 and 07.07; 'earnings per average mile open, £1275 and £1314; working expenses per average mile open, £B4O and £881; net earning per average mile open, £435 and £433; earnings per train mile, 102.75 and 105.25; working expenses per train mile, 67.75 and 70.52; net earnings per train mile, 35.00 and 34.73; passengers (ordinary), 11,200,013 and 11.891,134; season ' tickets, 222,104 and 230,957; goods tonnage, 5,505,292 and 5.599,756; live stock tonnage, 308,382 and 288.152: train mileage 8,141,076 and 8,371,687; locomotives, 478 and 493; passenger cars, 1166 and 1212; waggons and brake vans, 18,030. * and 18,521. THE GENERAL MANAGER. MINISTERIAL CONTROL. Dealing with the projected retirement of the General Manager (Mr. T. Ronayne), the Minister says that, as announced in the Financial' Statement, the Cabinet has decided on his recommendation to invite applications in London for the position of general manager. "It is not," he adds, "intended to do away with the Ministerial control over the railway policy, or to lessen the responsibility of the Minister to Parliament, but* it is hoped that by getting a. general manager who has had experience of some of the great railway systems in, the "United Kingdom or abroad reform may be introduced into the railway system of New Zealand." THE STATE AND EMPLOYEES. LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED. "The next burning question to be met." he goes on U) say, "is the ques* - tion of the. relations of the State to its employees on the railway. The State should be proud of its employees in that department, as taking them as a whole they are a fine body of men. They had, however, certain grievances which, in some oases, were justly founded, and last year they approached Parliament by petition. My predecessor, Mr. Myers, I am sjlad to say, relieved mo of a portion of this intricate question by meeting the exeeutivo of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and bv going thoroughly into the matter with them he came to an agreement which is satisfactory to both sides. I have also met the representatives of the Locomotive. Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners.' Association, and heard their views, and have no doubt that in their case a satisfactory solution will be arrived at in the base, of the first division, as soon as the question of the difference between the figures submitted hy the Department and by the Railway Officers' Institute is settled by the Public Aecounis Committee, to whom it has been referred by resolution of the House of Representative*;. T intend to meet the executive, and I have no doubt that in this case also a modes vivendi will be arrived at. When these agreements are come to a Bill amending the Government Railways ■ Act will be brought down and submitted to Parliament this session." EXPANSION O? BUSINESS. IMPORTANT WO'RKS NECESSARY. "Tt -will be necessary shortly to put in hand a number of important works of very considerable magnitude, so that the railways may he in a position to meet the demands of the rapidlv expanding business. It is proposed that % special Act be submitted with the various items scheduled, and authority given for a sufficient sum of money to be borrowed, the expenditure being spread over a term of years. The state of the money market, however, precluded the idea of introducing the Bill this session, but if the market improves it will he introduced next session."