DOMINION RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 8

DOMINION RAILWAYS.

A RECOBD YEAB. (By Telegraph.—Special to Daily Hews.) Wellington, Last Night. The Railways Statement shows that notwithstanding the war the gross receipts were the highest on record, amounting to -£4,105,457. Results are summarised as follows: 1915 1914 £ £ Total earnings -.. 4,105,457 4,043,328 Total expenditure 2,920,455 2,880,323 Net profits on working ...... 1,185,002 1,163,005 Following is a summary of the results of working:— Miles open for traffic, 28G3 in 1914, and 2955 in 1915. . Capital cost, 1914, 32,355,087; 1915, £34 123 B^s Gross earnings, 1914, £4,043,328; 1915, £4,105,457. Working expenses, 1914, £2,880,323; 19115, £2,920,455. Net profit, 1914, £1,163,005; 1916, £1,185,000. 'Percentage of profit, 1914, 3.£1; 1315, 3.53. . Percentage of working expenses to earnings, 1914, 71.24; >1915, 71.14. Passengers, ordinary, 13,355,893 In i 1914, and 15,565,772 in 1915. Season tickets, 287,037 and 302,912, respectively. The annual report of the General Manager deals in detail with the matters mentioned in the Minister's Statement, and the general working of the system. The General Manager repeats and emphasises the recommendations he I made last year, that before the con- ' etruction of new railway lines is undertaken by the Public Works Department, the Railways Department should be consulted, and an estimate of the cost, working expenses, and revenue prepared. The estimate should take into account the new roiling stock that may be required. The improvements recommended in his previous report are still urgently necessary, and, although any heavy expenditure has been postponed, owing to the war, the matter should be kept in view. Traffic on many main and suburban lines is already very congested and there is every indication of great expansion taking place. Among the railway rotes are the following:—

t. 1 ■3 a B" £ 8 © c5 i o > £ £ -p -P % « s-1 J £ £ Mt. Egraorit 7,500■branch 1,000 3,996 Oqunike branch — 40,000 40,000 4,339 Stratford Main Trunk 80,000 100,000 102,165 Raetihi Main Trunk 20,000 30,000 23,115 Stone Quarry line, Rangitikei River 3,000 7,500 206 Martinborough .. 5,000 15,000 70