D.—2.

proportionate decrease in net ton-miles as compared with goods tonnage. The increase in the average revenue per ton-mile and per ton is a reflection of the tariff increases previously referred to and to the increase in the average haul. V ariation. 1932. 1931. Amount. Per Cent. Total gross ton-miles revenue freight 1,285,066,357 1,497,272,997 —212,206,640 14-17 Goods-vehicle miles (loaded) .. 106,098,317 120,416,484 —14,318,167 11-89 Goods-vehicle miles (empty) .. 51,073,875 59,914,969 —8,841,094 14-76 Total goods-vehicle miles .. 157,172,192 180,331,453 —23,159,261 12-84 The decreases under these headings are a reflection of the decreases in goods traffic. Averages : Revenue, Freight Traffic. Variation. Per Mile of Line: — 1932. 1931. Amount. Per Cent. Goods revenue .. .. £1,244 £1,359 —£115 8-46 Total tonnage .. .. £1,803 2,106 —303 14-39 Net ton-miles .. .. 125,466 141,420 —15,954 11-28 Gross ton-miles .. .. 397,853 453,307 —55,454 12-23 Variation. 1932. 1931. Amount. Per Cent. Goods revenue per train-mile .. 168-41 d. 168-09 d. +0-32 0-19 Train load, gross .. .. 224-00 234-00 —10-00 4-27 Train load, net .. .. 70-75 72-90 —2-15 2-95 Number of vehicles per train (loaded) .. .. .. 18-52 18-79 -0-27 1-44 Number of vehicles per train (empty) .. .. .. 8-92 9-35 —0-43 4-60 It will be noted that despite the heavy decline in traffic the revenue per train-mile increased slightly, which indicates that the operating was carefully watched to avoid unnecessary running. Variation, Per 1,000 Gross Ton-miles: — 1932. 193]. Amount Per Cent. Revenue .. .. .. £3*128 £2-997 +£0-131 4-37 Net ton-miles .. .. .. 315 312 +3 1-13 The increase in the average revenue per 1,000 gross ton-miles is due to the fact that revenue did not decrease in the same proportion as the gross ton-miles owing to the tariff increases to which reference has previously been made. Variation. Wagon User:— 1932. 1931. Amount Per Cent. Revenue per ordinary goods'vehicle £142 £161 —£19 11-80 Revenue per live-stock vehicle .. £152 £158 —£6 3-80 Average wagon-load (tons) .. 3-82 3-88 —0 •06 1• 55 Average miles per wagon per day 17-90 20-66 -2-76 13-36 Average net ton-miles per wagon per annum (ordinary goods) .. 14,946 17,578 —2,632 14-97 Average net ton-miles per wagon per annum (live-stock) .. 11,072 11,233 —161 1-43 The following table shows certain operating results for goods trains. In the table the average results for each period for the three years ended. 31st March, 1931, have been taken as the index number 100.

It will be noted that notwithstanding the low index figure for gross and net ton-miles the turnover per train-hour for both gross and net ton-miles was quite satisfactory.

XV

Gross Net Gross Ton- Net Ton- j Ton-miles. Ton- m iles. Train-load. Index No. .. .. 100 100 100 100 100 100 1931. April .. .. .. 76 75 103 100 100 97 May .. .. .. 86 83 103 100 99 96 June .. .. .. 80 79 102 99 99 95 July ■ • .. .. 74 74 99 96 93 91 August .. .. .. 72 72 98 96 93 91 September .. .. . . 77 75 99 98 94 94 October .. .. .. 74 74 98 96 94 92 November .. .. .. 71 71 97 94 93 91 December .. .. .. 73 71 101 94 96 90 January .. .. .. 90 90 110 107 106 103 January .. .. .. 76 74 102 96 97 91 February .. 78 79 107 105 101 100 March .. .. .. 85 88 107 107 101 101