53

D.—4

The operating revenue and expenditure for the whole of the branch and for last year was as follows : Branch revenue, £15,373 ; feeder value, £1,684 ; total revenue, £17,057 ; working-expenses, £19,866 ; interest, £7,215 : total loss, £10,024. Although, special facilities were given on this branch to passenger traffic, the returns from this source show a falling-off in revenue of £1,400 over the past three years. Your Commission recommends that the present passenger service be discontinued, and that a mixed train be run daily between Fairlie and Timaru, and vice versa. The requirements of goods traffic can be met by running a special goods service as required. Estimated saving, £2,800 per annum. Waimate Branch. (Distance, 12 miles 55 chains.) The operating revenue and expenditure per mile for this branch for the past four years was : —

The operations for the whole of the branch and for last year were as follows : Branch revenue, £3,563 ; feeder value, £2,768 ; total revenue, £6,331 ; workingexpenses, £9,631 ; interest, £2,444 : total loss, £5,744. Your Commission recommends that the present daily service between Waihao Downs and Waimate (distance, 8 miles 21 chains) be discontinued, and that a goods service as required be run on this section. That the locomotive depot at Waihao Downs be closed and staff transferred. That the service between Waimate and Studholme Junction be reviewed and reduced to a minimum. Estimated saving, £1,200 per annum. Kurow Branch. (Distance, 37 miles 41 chains.) The operating revenue and expenditure per mile for this branch for the past four years was : —

The operations for the whole of the branch and for last year were as follows : Branch revenue, £13,295 ; feeder value, £2,399 ; total revenue, £15,694 ; workingexpenses, £18,898 ; interest, £6,688 : total loss, £9,892. Your Commission recommends that the present passenger service be discontinued, and that a mixed train be run daily, which train will be substituted for the present passenger and goods service. It is further recommended that the line from Kurow to Hakataramea (distance, 1 mile 20 chains) be lifted, unless a satisfactory arrangement can be made with the local bodies concerned to bear a higher proportion of the cost of repairs to the bridges over the Waitaki River. Estimated saving, £1,800 per annum.

T 7 Branch Feeder i Lotal Working- T , , m , , T Year. T , ,r , t> Interest. i lotal Loss. Kevenue. Value. | Kevenue. expenses. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1927 .. .. 376 338 714 784 184 254 1928 .. .. 358 286 644 714 181 251 1929 .. .. | 338 288 626 809 181 364 1930 .. .. 274 213 487 741 188 442 I i

Yra , Branch. I Feeder Total Working- interest ' Total Toss year - Revenue. I Value. Revenue. j expenses. interest. Lota! Loss. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1927 .. .. 358 59 417 406 166 155 1928 .. .. 296 48 344 436 162 254 1929 .. .. 356 72 428 462 162 196 1930 .. .. 350 63 413 498 176 261