D.—2.

XXII

Proceeding to an examination of the statistical figures, the following may be interesting and helpful:— Freight Traffic Averages. 1928-29. 1927-28. Variation. Per Mile of Line No. No. No. Per Cent. Freight tonnage .. .. 2,343 2,315 + 28 +1-21 Freight net ton-miles .. .. 149,893 147,236 + 2,657 -j-1-80 Freight gross ton-miles .. .. 481,593 467,168 +14,425 +3-09 These figures are a reflection of the increase in the goods tonnage carried. 1928-29. 1927-28. Variation. Per Freight Train-mile:— No. No. No. Per Cent. Train-load, gross .. .. .. 232 228 + 4 +1-75 Train-load, net .. .. .. 87 87 Number of vehicles, loaded .. .. 18-81 18-65 +0-16 +0-86 Number of vehicles, empty .. .. 9-12 8-91 4-0-21 -j-2-36 These figures indicate that we have been able to get better loading for our trains but that more empty haulage was necessary, a condition which usually accompanies abnormal peak demands, such as were experienced during the year. 1928-29. 1927-28. Variation. Per 1,000 Gross Ton-miles£ £ £ Per Cent. Freight revenue .. .. .. 3-09 3-15 —0-06 —1-90 No. No. No. Net ton-miles .. .. .. 376 380 — 4 —1-05 The decreased revenue per 1,000 gross ton-miles is due to the greater proportion of empty haulage. 1928-29. 1927-28. Variation. Wagon user £ £ £ Per Cent. Revenue per ordinary goods vehicle .. 183 176 + 7 +3-98 Revenue per live-stock vehicle .. .. 173 169 + 4 +2-37 Tons. Tons. Tons. Average wagon-load .. .. .. 4-64 4-65 —0-01 —0-22 The decreased wagon-load is due to the net ton-mileage of traffic with a relatively low wagon-load such as live-stock and merchandise, increasing in a greater ratio than heavy traffic such as minerals and timber. 1928-29. 1927-28. Variation. No. No. No. Per Cent. Average miles per wagon per day .. 22-48 21-38 +1-10 +5-14 Average net ton-miles per wagon per annum (ordinary goods) .. .. ..23,429 22,484 + 945 +4-20 Average net ton-miles per wagon per annum (live-stock) .. .. ..11,827 11,343 + 484 +4-27 These figures show that the turnover of the trucks has been much better. Each truck travelled farther, and carried more goods. Coaching Traffic Variations. Per Cent. Coaching revenue decreased .. .. .. .. .. 0-88 Coaching train-miles increased .. .. .. .. .. 4-07 Coaching train-hours ~ .. .. .. .. 3-13 Coaching vehicle-miles ~ .. .. .. .. .. 2-47 Coaching Revenue: — Per train-mile decreased .. .. .. .. .. 4-78 Per train-hour ~ .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-90 Per vehicle-mile „ .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-64 Freight Traffic Variations. Freight revenue increased .. .. .. .. .. 4-22 Freight train-miles ~ .. .. .. .. .. 3-78 Freight train-hours ~ .. .. .. .. .. 0-93 Freight gross ton-miles ~ .. .. .. .. .. 5-55 Freight net ton-miles ~ .. .. .. .. .. 4-51 Freight vehicle-miles ~ .. .. .. . . .. 5-17 Net ton-miles as a percentage of gross decreased .. . . . . 0-97 Empty-vehicle miles as a percentage of total vehicle-miles increased .. 1-02 Freight Revenue: — Per train-mile increased .. .. .. .. 0-41 Per train-hour ~ .. .. .. . . 3-26 Per thousand gross ton-miles decreased . . .. . . .. 1-26 Per thousand net ton-miles „ .. .. .. 0-28 Per vehicle-mile „ .. .. .. .. 0-78