D.—2.

miles, it would thus appear that the more than proportionate rise in " empty " haulage was due to the necessity of providing wagons on account of the acute shortage due to the heavy demands on rolling-stock caused by the phenomenal increase in traffic. Averages : Revenue, Freight Traffic. Per Mile of Line:— 1938. 1937. Variation. Per Cent. Goods revenue .. .. .. £1,636 £1,474 +£162 10-99 Total tonnage .. .. .. 2,272 2,072 +200 9-65 Net ton-miles .. .. .. 169,626 150,973 +18,653 12-36 Gross ton-miles .. .. ..548,242 494,633 +53,609 10-84 p er JFtQ/'I'YI * Gross load (tons) .. .. .. 243-24 239-13 +4-11 1-72 Net load (tons) .. .. .. 75-26 72-99 +2-27 3-11 Number of vehicles (loaded) .. .. 18-06 18-12 -0-06 0-33 Number of vehicles (empty) .. .. 9-24 9-13 +0-11 1-20 Per 1,000 Gross Ton-miles :— Revenue .. .. .. .. £2-983 £2-980 +£0-003 0-10 Net ton-miles .. .. .. 309 305 +4 1-31 Per Train-mile :—- Revenue .. .. .. .. 174-19 d. 171-02 d. +3-17 d. 1-85 Wagon User: — Revenue per 4-wheeled goods vehicle .. £192 £175 +£17 9-71 Revenue per 4-wheeled live-stock vehicle £193 £166 +£27 16-26 Average wagon-load (tons) .. .. 4-17 4-03 +0-14 3-47 Average miles per wagon per day .. 26-21 24-09 +1-12 4-65 Average net ton-miles per wagon per annum (ordinary goods) .. .. 20,593 18,592 +2,001 10-76 Average net ton-miles per wagon per annum (live-stock) .. .. .. 15,286 12,854 +2,432 18-92 The above figures, which are a fairly complete record of the freight operations of the Department, disclose some interesting facts. As there was little variation in the miles of track the figures show good increases for the traffic handled per mile of line. The gross train-load shows an increase of 1-72 per cent, and the net train load an increase of 3-11 per cent. This latter was brought about despite a slight decrease in the loaded vehicles per train, by an increase of 3-47 per cent, in the average wagonload. The slight increase in the number of empty vehicles per train is in accordance with the empty haulage discussed above. Revenue earned pel vehicle shows big increases, particularly live-stock vehicles, due to the very heavy season experienced. An appreciable increase is shown in the miles travelled per wagon per day, while the annual turnover per wagon was excellent.

ADVERTISING SERVICE.

1938. 1937. Variation. An analysis of the revenue is as under: — £ £ £ Outdoor advertising .. .. .. 28,168 26,067 + 2,101 Publications.. .. .. .. 5,657 5,314 + 343 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 3,255 2,851 + 404 Advertising in buses .. .. .. 317 303 + 14 £37,397 £34,535 +£2,862 The revenue of this branch has shown a steady improvement during the past year, an increase in revenue of £2,862, or 8-29 per cent., being shown on the previous year's figures. New business written up during the last four years is as under : — 1938. 1937. 1936. 1935. £ £ £ £ Outdoor advertising .. 34,907 32,056 37,515 30,539 Publications .. .. 4,848 5,707 4,827 3,144 Buses .. .. .. 228 288 973 47 £39,983 £38,051 £43,315 £33,730 " Terminable " contracts, which are not included in the above figures, were as follow : 1935, £1,192; 1936, £809; 1937, £1,256 ; 1938, £10,967.

XIX

1938. 1937. Variation. PerCent. £ £ £ lievenue .. .. .. 37,397 34,535 +2,862 8-29 Expenditure .. .. .. 32,627 31,151 +1,476 4-74 Net revenue .. .. £4,770 £3,384 +1,386 40-96