D.—2

XII

The increase in the operating earnings for the current year over the year ended 31st March, 1928, is 2-46 per cent. The passenger earnings in the same period have decreased by 0-96 per cent., while the goods earnings have increased by 3-55 per cent. The operating receipts from the North and South Island Main Lines and Branches, shown separately, are as follow : —

The operating earnings per average open mile and per train-mile are as follow : — Per Average Mile p Train . mile . open. £ d. 1928-29 .. .. .. .. 2,312 162-50 1927-28 .. .. .. .. 2,310 162-62 1926-27 .. .. .. .. 2,351 166-14 The operating earnings for the North and South Island Main Lines and Branches are as follow : —

Subsidiary Service Revenue. —The revenue from subsidiary services amounted to £724,175 as compared with £691,125 for the previous year, and an analysis of the figures is as follows : — 1928-29. 1927-28. 1926-27. £ £ £ Lake Wakatipu steamers .. .. .. 10,941 9,885 10,273 Refreshment service .. .. .. 123,382 122,220 129,612 Advertising service .. .. .. .. 53,984 52,600 47,387 Departmental dwellings .. .. .. 105,897 93,643 83,375 Leases book-stalls, &c. .. .. .. 19,455 20,542 20,462 Road-motor services .. .. .. 102,385 32,487 8,744 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 308,131 359,748 266,108 724,175 691,125 565,961 Expenditure. The total expenditure for the year ended 31st March, 1928, was £6,849,383, an increase of £164,260 as compared with the previous year's figures . 1928-29. 1927-28. 1926-27. £ £ £ Expenditure on train operation .. 6,374,579 6,302,119 6,158,283 Subsidiary services .. .. .. 474,804 383,004 332,597

North Island Main Line and Branches. South Island Main Line and Branches. I | 1928-29. 1927-28. 1926-27. 1928-29. I 1927-28. 1926-27. j I £ £ £ £ £ £ Passengers, ordinary .. 1,195,259 1,213,778 1,313,574 644,118 645,488 702,402 Season tickets .. .. 171,034 172,816 170,391 81,478 81,055 83,696 Parcels, luggage, and mails 241,009 239,667 236,749 128,486 131,938 132,574 Goods .. .. 2,721,384 2,625,540 2,578,047 1,938,634 1,869,774 1,826,351 Labour, demurrage, &c... 93,300 69,400 78,969 69,389 56,643 54,292 4,421,986 4,321,201 4,377,730 2,862,105 2,784,898 ! 2,799,315

North Island Main Line and Branches. South Island Main Line and Branches. Year. Per Average Mile t> tr • i Per Average Mile -n rr • -i 6 Per Iram-mue. ° Per Irain-mue. open. ! open. £ d. £ d. 1928-29 .. .. 3,202 158-27 1,760 167-72 1927-28 .. .. 3,289 160-05 1,721 165-05 1926-27 .. .. 3,386 164-1] 1,730 167-79