D.—2

The total return to the Department in respect of the operations of the Refreshment Branch for the past five years is as under : —

BOOKSTALL SERVICE.

The total return to the Department in respect of the operation of bookstalls over the last three years is as follows : —

The Department controls, through the Refreshment Branch, eighteen railway bookstalls. The increased revenue and expenditure for 1935-36 is accounted for in part by the fact that ten of the bookstalls were taken over in June, 1934, and consequently for the year ended 31st March, 1935, the eighteen bookstalls were not operated for the full twelve months. The increase in passenger traffic that has taken place during the year also resulted in increased patronage of the bookstalls. The following figures showing the return to the Department from the operation of some of the bookstalls under private control, contrasted with Departmental control, show that the action of the Department in taking over and controlling the bookstalls as an integral part of railway operation has been fully justified by results : —

iii D. 2.

XVII

1936. 1935. 1934. j 1933. 1932. £ £ £ £ £ Rent .. .. .. .. 9,230 9,230 9,230 9,100 9,100 Commission . . .. .. .. 742 667 620 584 715 Rail fares 1,066 1,066 1,066 1,066 1,066 Rail freights 1,790 1,825 1,818 1,851 2,349 Interest .. .. .. . . 1,108 1,1.02 1,124 1,129 1,291 Net profit .. .. .. .. 4,156 2,132 786 2,928 1,681 £18,092 £16,022 £14,644 £16,658 £16,202

1936. 1935. Variation. Per Cent. £ £ £ Revenue 45,798 36,846 +8,952 24-30 Expenditure 43,042 34,564 +8,478 24-53 Net revenue .. .. .. £2,756 £2,282 + £474 20-77

I 1936. 1935. 1934. £ £ £ Net profit .. .. .. .. 2,756 2,282 1,684 Rent| .. .. .. .. 4,580 3,685 2,079 Railages 167 157 40 Commission .. • • • • • • 320 257 145 £7,823 £6,381 £3,948

Return per annum Return per Annum Location of Bookstall. under private under Departmental Increase. control. Control. £ £ £ Auckland 1,353 1,453 100 Frankton Junction . . . . . . 325 499 174 Palmerston North . . . . . . 172 562 390 Tkorndon .. .. .. .. 577 1,244 667 Christchurch . . .. . . .. 595 1,462 867 Greymouth .. .. .. .. 130 308 178 Ashburton .. . . . . . . 234 528 294 Dunedin 580 1,028 448 Invercargill .. . . . . . . 104 520 416