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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 6 (October 1, 1928)

Variations In Traffic And Revenue — 1st April, 1928, to 18th August, 1928—as compared with last year

page 64

Variations In Traffic And Revenue
1st April, 1928, to 18th August, 1928—as compared with last year.

District. Passengers. Number. Season Tickets, Number. Bearer Tickets, Number. Road Motor Passengers. Number. Cattle, Calves. Number. Sheep, Pigs. Number. Timber. Tons. Other Goods. Tons.
Auckland -32,611 8,407 1,060 24,162 -8,152 -8,968 -29,658
Ohakune -10,880 87 4 2,132 1,383 -2,238 1,121
Wanganui -10,503 16 45 22,085 -8,976 630 -1,259
Wellington -57,060 7,065 525 797,101 6,071 -3,840 -1,337 19,820
Total N.I.M.L.B. -111,054 15,575 1,634 797,101 54,450 -19,585 -11,913 -9,976
Christchurch -22,117 6,074 396 9,924 -816 89,587 7,443 28,552
Dunedin -7,949 5,478 208 -211 -776 145,185 114 8,723
Invercargill -4,641 601 66 201 104,910 -2,196 9,868
Total S.I.M.L.B. -34,707 12,153 670 9,713 -1,391 339,682 5,361 47,143
Westport -2,244 -142 36 -289 -773 -20,921
Other small sections -1,152 -20 -5 179 12,788 -537 1,391
Grand Total -149,157 27,566 2,299 806,814 53,274 332,596 -7,862 17,637

Revenue.

District. Passengers. £ Parcels. £ Goods. £ Road Motor. £ Miscellaneous. £ Total Increase or Decrease. £
Auckland -11,160 485 -25,511 2,832 -33,354
Ohakune -2,263 59 -2,202 -115 -4,521
Wanganui -3,753 -318 -3,891 -893 -8,855
Wellington -10,348 180 16,581 26,450 -1 32,862
Total N.I.M.L.B. -27,524 406 -15,023 26,450 1,823 -13,868
Christchurch -6,271 -370 22,258 1,364 -551 16,430
Dunedin -2,967 -119 5,868 -83 -257 2,442
Invercargill -1,829 -450 4,610 -400 1,931
Total S.I.M.L.B. -11,067 -939 32,736 1,281 -1,208 20,803
Westport -223 -10 -2,884 -1,009 -4,126
Other small sections 529 34 1,574 -226 1,911
Grand Total -38,285 -509 16,403 27,731 -620 4,720

Note.—“Minus” sign indicates decrease. In all other cases the figures indicate the increase in number, quantity or amount.

In order that the figures shown above may be reduced to a comparable basis it is necessary to allow for the fact that this year's returns cover a period of 140 days, while the traffic for last year is the result of 142 days' operations. As the average daily receipts are approximately £25,000 it is satisfactory to note that, despite the two days less in this year's figures, the revenue up to date has increased by nearly £5,000. The new revenue brought in by bus services not operated last year, is reflected in this increase.

“Although “ordinary” train tickets show a falling off, the railways are to-day carrying more passenger traffic than last year, both season and bearer tickets showing substantial increases. There is a tendency for the revenue earned in this class of traffic to be in inverse ratio to the service performed.

A big increase is shown in cattle traffic in the North Island. This is due to the increased demand for day-old calves consequent on the extension of the boneless veal industry. In the South Island, too, sheep traffic shows a big increase, due mainly to the late season experienced.

Timber traffic has fluctuated somewhat over the whole system, but in the aggregate is little below normal.

Turning to “other goods,” we find a Dominion increase of nearly 18,000 tons over 1927, but compared with 1926 the increase is only 3,000 tons. That this increase is not greater is due in large measure to the decreased production of coal in the Westport district, the decrease being brought about by bad weather hampering shipping, and a declining demand owing to the greater use of electricity.

Considerable variation is manifested in the different districts, but generally speaking those districts which showed a poor return last year are showing up well this year and vice versa.