STATE RAILWAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1939, Page 5

STATE RAILWAYS

IMPROVEMENT IN REVENUE POSITION ON ACCOUNT OF INCREASED TRAFFIC. MINISTER'S ANTICIPATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN November 13. Higher revenue figures for the RaiL ways Department for the first half of the current year were announced by the Minister of Railways, Mr Sullivan. when performing the opening ceremony on the new road services terminal in Dunedin today. Present indications. Mr,Sullivan said, wore that the Budget estimate of net revenue for the coming financial year would be attained and possibly exceeded. “The latest financial results of the department's operations, covering the first 28 weeks of the current financial year from April 1 to October 14, show an increase of £934.000 compared with the corresponding period in the peak year of railway revenue before the depression.” the Minister said. "The gross revenue, amounting to £5.018,000. is actually greater than that earned in any corresponding period in the history of our railways. Compared with the earnings for the first 28 weeks of last year, the increase is £400,000. "The goods tonnage handled up to Otober 14 inreased by G 6.000 tons, and goods revenue by £295 000. Passenger journeys increased by 206.000, and passenger revenue by £46.000. Parcels and luggage increased by £lO.OOO. Refreshment returns increased by £3500 and bookstall returns increased by £4OOO. Road services returns increased by £67.000. and miscellaneous revenue increased by £34,000. “The net revenue for the current year to date shows an improvement of £272.000 over that for last year. The Budget estimate for the coming financial year is for a net revenue of £1,250.000 from the railways, and the satisfactory achievement so far indicates that this figure, which represents the highest net revenue in the past decade, will be attained and may even be exceeded, notwithstanding the disturbed trading conditions caused by the war and by some other circumstances.”