D.—2

1911. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAYS STATEMENT. BY THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS. THE HON. J. A. MILLAR

Me. Speaker,— In presenting the Railways Statement for the year ending 31st March, 1911, I have gratification in announcing that the result of the year's operations has been satisfactory. The earnings, which exceeded last year's revenue by £244,392, are the highest yet obtained in the history of the railways of the Dominion. The result may be summarized thus:— YearJl9lo. £ £ Total earnings ... ... ... ... 3,494,182 3,249,790 Total expenditure ... ... ... ... 2,303,272 2,169,474 Net profit on working ... ... ...£1,190,910 £1,080,316 GENERAL. The mileage of line open for traffic on the 31st March, 1911, was 2,761 miles, as against 2,71.7 miles for the previous year. The average miles operated during the year was 2,742 miles. The following extensions were opened for traffic during the year:— M. eh. Hukerenui - Towai ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 39 Wellsford-Te Hana ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 25 Huiroa- Te Wera ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 00 Domett-Mina ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 64 Ngahere-Blackball ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 31 Lawrence-Big Hill ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 31 Broken River - Cass ... ... ... ... ... ...15 30 44 60 The capital cost of lines open for traffic, including plant and steamers on Lake Wakatipu, has increased from ,£28,513,476 last year to £29,606,546 for the year under review. The net revenue, £1,190,910, exceeded that of the previous year by £110,594, and is equal to a return of 4-06 per cent, on the capital invested in the open lines, and 378 on the total capital of £31,509,960 invested in opened and unopened lines. The cost of working the Kawakawa and Kaihu Sections exceeded the gross earnings by £2,643 and £573 respectively. The number of train-miles run during the year was 8,141,075, being an increase of 251,909 miles over the previous year. The increased train-mileage represents additional train facilities to meet the requirements of the growing business and the public convenience, and has cost over £71,000. Additional services provided on the North Island main lines absorbed 201,000 miles, Westland Section 19,000 miles, and the South Island main lines 26,000 miles. In the Auckland District additional workers' trains have been laid on from Henderson, Onehunga, and Otahuhu. Several of the trains that formerly ran to i—D. 2.