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Railway Progress in New Zealand
General Manager's Message

In conveying a New Year message, I think it appropriate to draw public attention once again to the very real service which the railways of this country have rendered in the past and will continue to render in the future for the welfare of the people of New Zealand, and to ask for the fullest possible measure of public support in order that the fuller use of the facilities which the railways have available may make the service which they render of even greater national value in the coming year.

While the Department spends over £5 millions annually, almost entirely in New Zealand, it earns over £6 millions and is able by its net earnings to contribute more than four-fifths of a £ million to the consolidated revenue of the State. So the railways, besides carrying over 21 million passengers, and hauling over five million tons of goods an average distance of 66 miles, for the whole of which service it collects only £4 per head of population, spends directly or indirectly amongst the public of New Zealand over £3 per head, and hands back about 10/- per head towards the interest charges on capital invested.

The Department employs directly nearly 15,000 men. With their dependents it may be estimated that 60,000 people are dependent on the railways. If to these are added those who are supported, or partly supported, by the £6 millions of annual railway expenditure, it will be realised how great a part the railways of this country play in the life of the nation.

I ask of all railwaymen during the coming year to give of their best in carrying on the work which they perform for the community, and I ask the public to increasingly recognise the benefits which the patronage of the railway transport service brings, and to support it accordingly.

General Manager.