D.—2.

this year. The fall in parcels traffic is, however, somewhat compensated for by ail increase in revenue from the carriage of mails, particulars of which appear below. The miscellaneous-luggage group showed an increase of £5,020 (11-58 per cent.). Revenue from the carriage of dogs, bicycles, &c., and from left and checked luggage showed the satisfactory increase of 12-85 per cent., which is considerably in excess of the increase in passenger travel. Revenue from bulk newspaper traffic again showed a substantial increase (10-3] per cent.), due to a continued improvement in the circulation of newspapers and periodicals. The following table shows the variations under the heading of " Mails " : — 1937. 1936. . Variation. £ £ £ Per Cent. Mails in guards' vans at half parcels rates 50,904 48,101 -j-2,803 5-83 Railway travelling post-office service .. 27,627 27,743 — 116 0'42 Mails carried in wagons .. .. •• 12,465 6,188 +6,277 101-44 Total .. .. •• 90,996 82,032 +8,964 10-93 The travelling post-office service is paid for on a mileage basis. GOODS AND LIVE-STOCK. The revenue and tonnage of goods and live-stock for 1937 compare with the previous year as follows : — 1937. 1936. Increase. Per Cent. Revenue .. £4,846,417 £4,359,750 +£486,667 11-16 Tonnage .. 6,813,240 6,188,805 +624,435 10-09 A comparison of tonnage and revenue from 1930 to 1937 is afforded in the following table : —

A comparison with 1936 of the tonnage of commodities under six main headings is as follows :—

A further comparison on the same basis of the composition of the revenue from goods traffic, as shown immediately above, for the last five years is as under: —

XV

Variation as compared with Previous Year in each Case. Year. Tons. Revenue. — : Tons. i Per Cent. Revenue. Per Cent. £ £ 1930 .. .. 7,788,973 4,904,324 + 175,324 2-31 +58,199 1-20 1931 .. .. 6,957,709 4,487,357 - 831,264 10-67 -416,967 8-50 1932 .. .. 5,824,811 4,019,600 -1,132,898 16-28 -467,757 10-42 1933 .. .. 5,490,686 3,745,777 - 334,125 5-74 -273,823 6-81 1934. .. .. 5,642,199 3,911,245 + 151,513 2-76 +165,468 4-42 1935 .. .. 6,023,960 4,138,434 + 381,761 6-77 +227,189 5-81 1936 .. .. 6,188,805 4,359,750 + 164,845 2-74 +221,316 5-35 1937 .. .. 6,813,240 4,846,417 + 624,435 10-09 +486,667 11-16

Variation. 1937. 1936. Tons. Tons. Tons. Per Cent. Agricultural products .. .. 588,255 477,928 -(-HO,327 23-08 Animals and their products .. .. 1,298,848 1,249,003 -j- 49,845 3 • 99 Products of mines .. .. .. 2,070,207 1,894,891 +175,316 9-25 Products of forests .. .. .. 531,111 493,342 .+ 37,769 7-66 Benzine, cement, and manures .. .. I 959,542 844,494 +115,048 13-62 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 1,365,277 1,229,147 +136,130 11-08 Totals .. .. ... 6,813,240 6,188,805 +624,435 10-09 i i

1937. 1936. ! 1935. 1934. ! 1933. j Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Per Cent. Agricultural products .. .. .. 7-47 6-95 8-78 8-64 9-17 Animals and their products .. .. 25-95 27-36 27-98 30-50 29-73 Products of mines .. .. .. 19-75 20-23 20-16 20-51 20-49 Products of forests .. .. .. 9-54 9-62 .8-69 7-52 6-67 Benzine, cement, and manures .. 13-90 13-46 13-12 12-61 13-42 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 23-39 22-38 21-27 20-22 20-52 Totals .. .. .. 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00 100-00