D.— 2.

All items in the miscellaneous luggage group show increases. Revenue from the carriage of dogs, bicycles, &c., and from "left" and "checked" luggage shows the satisfactory increase of 11-89 per cent., which is considerably in excess of the increase in passenger travel. Revenue from bulk newspaper traf&c again shows an increase (9-59 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 " : — 1938. 1937. Variation. £ £ £ Pgf CGllt. Mails in guards'vans at half parcel rates.. 55,080 50,904 +4,176 8-20 Railway travelling post-office service .. 27,818 27,627 +191 0-69 Mails carried in wagons .. .. 18,040 12,465 +5,575 44-73 Total .. .. .. £100,938 £90,996 +£9,942 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 1938 compare with the previous year as follow : — 1938. 1937. Increase. Per Cent. Revenue .. .. £5,411,297 £4,846,417 £564,880 11-66 Tonnage .. .. 7,516,049 6,813,240 Tons 702,809 10-32 Although the tonnage of goods and live-stock carried is 3-50 per cent, below the peak year of 1930, the business handled was far greater in 1938, as is shown by an increase over 1930 of 9.63 per cent, in net ton-miles. The revenue earned in 1938 is the highest for any year on record. The average haul rose from 66 miles in 1930 to 75 miles in 1938. Little variation was shown in the receipt per ton-mile, the 1930 figure being 2-32 d., compared with 2-35 d. in 1938. The beneficial effects of the generally favourable season have been reflected in the financial returns for the year, and the tonnage of general merchandise, live-stock, wool, dairy-produce, and manures handled was such as to tax the available rolling-stock to the utmost limit. A comparison of tonnage and revenue from 1930 to 1938 is afforded in the following table : —

A comparison with 1937 of the tonnage of commodities under six main headings is as follows : —

XVI

Variation as compared with Previous Year in each Case. Year. Tons. Revenue. - Tons. j Per Cent, j Revenue. { Per Cent. . £ £ 1930 .. .. 7,788,973 4,904,324 -j- 175,324 2-31 + 58,199 1-20 193J .. .. 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 1938 .. .. 7,516,049 5,411,297 + 702,809 10-32 +564,880 11-66

Variation. 1938. 1937. Tons. Tons. Tons. Per Cent. I Agricultural products .. .. 585,181 588,255 — 3,074 0-52 Animals and their products .. .. 1,386,996 1,298,848 + 88,148 6-79 Products of mines .. .. .. 2,231,051 2,070,207 +160,844 7-77 Products of forests .. .. .. 579,216 531,111 + 48,105 9-06 Benzine, cement, and manures .. .. 1,234,365 959,542 +274,823 28-64 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 1,499,240 1,365,277 +133,963 9-81 Totals .. .. .. 7,516,049 6,813,240 +702,809 10-32