i).—2

XII

will fully justify my recommendation, and the convenience of the public will be greatly increased. With a view of securing a more uniform system of working the railway traffic throughout the various sections in the Dominion, I invited a conference of District Traffic Managers to be held in Wellington with the Chief Traffic Manager, when many important matters were discussed. The results of this conference will, I think, be of benefit not only to the officers themselves, but to the public with whom they have to deal. It is my intention to hold such conferences with the General Manager and the chief officers of the different Departments from time to time. The following statement shows a brief comparison of the traffic and the rolling-stock for dealing therewith when the Government resumed control of the railways in 1895 with that at 81st March of the present year:— 31st March, 31st March, T Per Cent of 1895. 1910. increase. Increase Passengers (number) ... 3,905,578 11,141,142 7,235,564 185 Season tickets „ ... 28,623 199,371 170,748 597 Parcels „ ... 444,981 1,047,806 602,825 135 Horses „ ... 11,185 20,571 9,386 84 Carriages „ ... 750 2,532 1,782 238 Dogs „ ... 23,517 51,235 27,718 118 Drays • „ ... 705 2,490 1,785 253 Cattle „ ... 40,890 176,412 135,522 331 Sheep „ ... 1,519,921 5,126,762 3,606,841 237 Pigs „ ... 43,292 126,930 83,638 193 Chaff, lime (tons) ... ... 36,972 179,902 142,930 387 Wool ... 103,328 151,051 47,723 46 Firewood „ ... ... 85,102 98,360 13,258 16 Timber ... 198,578 523,845 325,267 164 Grain „ ... ... 388,556 1,044,468 655,912 169 Merchandise ... 377,938' 739,667 361,729 96 Minerals „ ... ... 857,917 2,486,121 1,628,204 190 Total tonnage ... ... 2,048,391 5,223,414 3,175,023 155 Total revenue .. ....£1,160,851 £3,249,790 £2,098,939 182 Locomotives (number) ... 269 465 196 73 tractive power (lb.) 1,756,178 5,459,621 3,703,443 211 Passenger-cars (number) ... 498 1,140 642 129 Passenger - cars, seating accommodation ... ... 17,455 47,842 30,387 174 Brake-vans (number) ... 204 367 163 80 Sheep-wagons „ ... 390 1,139 749 192 Total wagons, all classes (number) ... ... 8,264 16,853 8,589 104 Wagon carrying-capacity (tons) 50,861 135,088 84,227 166 Train-mileage run... ... 3,221,620 7,889,166 4,667,546 145 I am fully satisfied that the prosperity manifested by the results of last year's working of our lines will continue during the current year, and, notwithstanding the fact that no Easter holiday traffic will be included in the returns of the year now entered upon. I estimate the revenue at £3,250,000, and the expenditure at £2,223,275. In conclusion, I may remark that with the proposed reduction of grades, the increased hauling-power of our engines, and the additional rolling-stock that will shortly be available, I hope that the Department will be able to continue paying its own interest, and I am confident that the policy proposed will enable further facilities to be granted to the people of the Dominion, either in the direction of improved services, the acceleration of the speed of trains, or by making reductions in rates, thereby enabling the railways to carry out to the fullest extent their function in assisting the further opening up and development of our country.