THE WHANGAREI-KAMO LINE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2526, 18 September 1888, Page 2

THE WHANGAREI-KAMO LINE.

TO TUB EDITOH. Sih, —The Hon. E. Mitchelson in the House, and Mr J. P. Maxwell in his report to the House, have both made the statement that the improved revenue derived from the Whangarei-Katno line is mainly due to the cessation of coal traffic. As Mr Mitchelson is now in town, I call his attention to the following indisputable facts, as shown by the figures of his own department. These are the returns for the two four weekly periods ending 23rd June and 21st. July in the years of 1887 and ISBS respectively : -- 1888. 18S7. New system. Old system. Passengers 2,081 1,441 Increase, 640, or 44.4 per cent. Merchandise, tonnrge ... 750 454 Increase, 302 tons, or 00 5 per cent. Mineral, tonnage ... 2,823 1,939 Increase, BS4 tons, or 43.0 per cent. Total toijnafft; 3,011 2,418 Increase, 1108 tons, or 40 0 per cent. Grnss revenue £484 ID G £332 12 0 Increase, £152 7s, or 4a.7 per cent. Expenditure ... £291 11 2 £450 4 1 Decrease, £107 12 i lid, or 30 3pcr cent. No revenue at all, loss of Net revenue, £193 Ss 4d £120 11 7 Improved revenue £319 19 11 These ave the results of eight weeks' working in the depth of winter, and I say they conclusively prove the superiority of the new system, for as every branch of ■ traffic has increased by from -1-H to (ifij per cent., while working expenses have decreased by over 3(i per cent. Messrs Mitchelson nr Maxwell cannot maintain their : position, that the improved revenue is due I to cessation of traffic, either in coal or any- i thing else. If such results can bo obtained i from a line connecting with a small village I only, why should they not be obtained i from lines connecting with onr chief j centres ? ' The improvement h equal to £320 per ( mile of railway per annum, which, for the : whole of our lines, would give us an in- ' creased revenue of 4JS()S,(i-10 per annum. I ; repeat my assertion that it can, and ought f: to be done ; nor is there anything wonder- t fill in it, for it simply means a return of G t per cent, on our outlay.—l am, etc., i Samuel Vaile, 1 Auckland, Sept. 12. t