The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 10 (February 1, 1928)
Variations in Traffic and Revenue — as compared with last year—1st April 1927, to 7th January, 1928
Variations in Traffic and Revenue
as compared with last year—1st April 1927, to 7th January, 1928.
District | Passengers. Number. | Season. Number. | Bearer-tickets. Number. | Cattle, Calves. Number. | Sheep Pigs. Number. | Timber. Tons. | Other Goods Tons. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Auckland | −95,488 | 11,541 | 4,126 | 36,414 | 122,907 | −8,950 | 46,356 |
Ohakune | −38,237 | −571 | 71 | 5,100 | 11,858 | −22,450 | −1,868 |
Wanganui | −58,125 | −497 | 69 | 22,009 | 11,572 | −1,197 | 18,653 |
Wellington | 200,291 | 10,359 | 1,497 | −11,987 | 4,200 | −254 | −30,045 |
Total N.I.M.L.B. | 8,441 | 20,832 | 5,763 | 51,536 | 150,537 | −32,851 | 33,096 |
Westport | −1,468 | 1 | −7 | −44 | −586 | −3,584 | −27,205 |
Christchurch | −86,317 | 3,954 | 143 | −32 | −82,543 | −32,971 | 54,612 |
Dunedin | −129,697 | 4,001 | −696 | −1,906 | −17,679 | −833 | 27,644 |
Invercargill | −79,014 | −428 | 31 | 464 | 56,499 | −3,299 | −14,913 |
Total S.I.M.L.B. | −295,028 | 7,527 | −522 | −1,474 | −43,723 | −37,103 | 67,343 |
Grand Total | −288,055 | 28,360 | 5,234 | 50,018 | 106,228 | −73,538 | 73,234 |
District | Passengers. | Parcels. | Goods. | Miscellaneous. | Total increase or decrease. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
Auckland | −30,424 | 1,322 | 38,674 | −3,433 | 6,139 |
Ohakune | −9,345 | 302 | −28,403 | −1,329 | −38,775 |
Wanganui | −13,161 | −1,177 | 5,729 | −1,819 | −10,428 |
Wellington | −15,433 | −462 | −31,932 | 9,221 | −38,606 |
Total N.I.M.L.B. | −68,363 | −15 | −15,932 | 2,640 | −81,670 |
Westport | −148 | 25 | −5,601 | −2,750 | −8,474 |
Christchurch | −23,287 | 579 | 8,065 | 9,738 | −4,905 |
Dunedin | −20,253 | −1,975 | 8,452 | −1,071 | −14,847 |
Invercargill | −18,361 | −1,421 | 11,406 | −805 | −9,181 |
Total S.I.M.L.B. | −61,901 | −2,817 | 27,923 | 7,862 | −28,933 |
Grand Total | −130,412 | −2,807 | 6,390 | 7,752 | −119,077 |
Note: “Minus” sign indicates decrease. In all other cases the figures indicate the increase in number, quantity or amount.
The decrease in the number of ordinary passengers carried (288,055) shows an improvement of 20,000 from the position existing at 12th November last, due to an increase of travelling throughout the Christmas holiday period. The further decline in passenger revenue indicates shorter distance travelling with fuller use of concession rates.
The heavy traffic in the closing stages of the Dunedin Exhibition in April, 1926, accounts for a portion of the total decrease.
Season and bearer tickets show an appreciable increase.
The carriage of large numbers of calves in connection with the recently formed industry for the export of boneless veal is responsible for the increase under the heading of cattle and calves.
At the close of the November period the number of sheep and pigs transported was just equal to the previous year. The increase at the present date is therefore attributed to the dry spell, the consequent shortage of feed tending to hasten the sending of stock to freezing works.
A decrease of 73,538 tons of timber is offset by an increase in other goods of 73,234 tons. Less poles are now required for electric reticulation while the decreasing demand for native timber has an unfavourable effect on rail transportation, the result which may be plainly seen in the goods revenue figures for the Ohakune district. The districts showing increases in other goods owe their positions mainly to the carriage of bulk commodities, while the comparatively small increase in goods revenue indicates that the increase is mostly in low grade freight.