57

D.—4

Your Commission recommends that in each of the above cases the passenger service be discontinued, and that the locomotive depots at Edievale and Waikaka be closed and the staff removed, arrangements to be made to work branch goods traffic as required. Estimated saving, £1,500 per annum. Glenham Branch. (Distance, 9 miles 25 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 for last year were as follows : Branch revenue, £1,590; feeder value, £1,140; total revenue, £2,730; workingexpenses, £5,778 ; interest, £2,480 : total loss, £5,528. Your Commission recommends that the locomotive depot at Wyndham be closed and staff removed, and that passenger traffic be discontinued. Arrangements to be made to work goods traffic on the branch as required. Estimated saving, £1,250 per annum. Seaward Bush Branch. (Distance, 33 miles 64 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, £15,133 ; feeder value, £1,629 ; total levenue, £16,762 ; workingexpenses, £19,083 ; interest, £8,602 : total loss, £10,923. At the present time one mixed train each way is run daily. Since 1927 the passenger revenue has declined by £3,000 per annum. Your Commission recommends that, unless a distinct improvement is shown in the revenue from this branch within the next six months, the passenger service be discontinued, and that a goods service be operated as business warrants. Oraivia Extension of the Tuatapere Branch. (Distance, 8 miles 23 chains.) The operating revenue and expenditure per mile on this extension of the branch line for the past four years was :—

Branch feeder Total Working- T , , i m ± i t Year. v> x T i t> Interest. JLotal Loss. -Revenue. Value. Kevenue. expenses. I 1 I £ £ £ £ £ £ 1927 .. .. 201 178 379 757 235 613 1928 .. .. 163 139 302 657 234 589 1929 .. .. 151 153 304 783 240 719 1930 .. .. 159 114 273 578 248 553

II I I Ypar Branch Feeder Total Working. j Ttf T f , T Year * Revenue. Value. Revenue. expenses. j interest - lotal lioss. II I | £ £ £ i £ £ £ 1927 .. .. 527 54 581 517 251 187 1928 .. .. 426 46 472 529 242 299 1929 .. .. 415 48 463 535 243 315 1930 .. .. 445 48 493 561 253 321

■*7" Branch Feeder Total Working- , , , m . i T Year. I} T7 , t> Interest. i lotal Loss. J Revenue. j Value. J Revenue. j expenses. j j 1927 .. .. 77 61 138 367 514 | 74-3 1928 .. .. 77 80 157 339 521 i 703 1929 .. .. 81 76 157 310 523 676 1930 .. .. 81 59 140 273 539 672 I