Passenger Traffic.

Another gratifying feature of the returns is that they indicate a swing back to the railways in the matter of passenger traffic. It cannot be doubted that a good deal of the decrease that the railway passenger traffic has been showing of late has been the result of the depression, and although it was hoped that the reduction in fares would ultimately result in an increase in passenger business, it would not have been surprising if, in the face of the depression, the reaction had been somewhat tardy. It has been found, however, that the rate of decrease in the passenger business for the last few weeks since the fares were lowered, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, has been much less, and this gives good reason to anticipate that the new level of fares is already bringing about a reaction as regards passenger transport in favour of the railways.