D—2

COAL POSITION

The coal position throughout the year continued to be a source of constant anxiety, despite the reductions in train services. The following table shows the consumption and stocks of locomotive coal during the past eight years :

At the time of writing the stocks amount to 8,316 tons, but during the month of June, 1946, they fell below 3,000 tons, and further cuts upon the already restricted time-table had to be imposed on 21st June. Apart from the loss of revenue on the regular train services, the coal shortage has meant that the railways have been unable to cater with special trains for special events such as football tours, Ranfurly Shield matches, show weeks, and the like. In pre-war years these special events, together with Sunday trains, have provided a good source of revenue at little additional expense. The following table shows for the same years the consumption of coal from the point of view of efficiency and economy :

It will be noted that the efficiency figures continue to correlate closely with the proportion of soft coal used. .REHABILITATION Approximately 7,600 railwaytaen have been released from the Armed Services, and of this number 700 are not now in railway employment, thus leaving 6,900 to be rehabilitated. A Railway Rehabilitation Officer has operated at headquarters during the year, and District Rehabilitation Officers have also been appointed for all branches. These officers work in close collaboration with the Rehabilitation Department. Through them contact is made with returned men and arrangements made for satisfactory placement and subsequent follow-up.

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Coal Consumption. Year ended 31st March, Coal Stocks. Hard. Soft. | Total. Tons. Tons. ! Tons. Tons. 1939 284,295 200,128 484,423 93,046 1940 301,512 190,944 492,456 53,570 1941 298,465 230,087 528,552 76,109 1942 307,948 229,784 537,732 73,332 1943 333,773 278,068 611,841 65,087 1944 284,688 349,319 634,007 20,817 1945 205,577 371,349 576,926 20,954 1946 209,943 400,143 610,086 11,841

Year ended 31st March, Steam-engine Miles (000's). Pounds per Engine-mile. Steam Gross Ton-miles (000's). Pounds per 1,000 Gross Ton-miles. Percentage of Soft Coal used. 1939.. 16,978 64 2,767,240 392 41 1940.. 17,069 65 2,828,326 390 39 1941 17,072 69 2,991,761 396 44 1942.. 17,368 69 3,078,801 391 43 1943.. 18,840 73 3,467,082 395 45 1944.. 18,955 75 3,562,997 399 55 1945.. 16,087 80 3,117,337 415 64 1946.. 16,804 81 3,281,499 416 66