D.—2.

The operating earnings for the last three years for the North and South Island Main Lines and Branches per average mile open and per train mile are as follow : —

PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

While passenger train miles and vehicle miles increased by 4-30 per cent and 1-00 per cent, respectively, passenger revenue increased by 5-16 per cent. Compared with the year 1937-38, the variations in passenger traffic, other than season tickets, are as follows :—

The variations in ordinary passenger traffic were distributed between first class and second class as follow :—

XIII

North Island Main Line and Branches. South Island Main Line and Branohes. Per Average Mile Per Train . mi]e . Per Average Mile Per Train . m1le . open. open. £ d. £ d. 1939 .. .. .. 3,287 140-48 1,841 156-94 1938 .. .. .. 3,086 137-13 1,778 150-12 1937 .. .. .. 2,767 134-21 1,660 147-23

1939. 1938. Variation. Passenger journeys— Number. Number. Number. Per Cent. Ordinary.. .. .. .. 7,813,436 8,069,018 - 255,582 3-17 Season .. .. .. .. 15,452,332 14,372,194 +1,080,138 7-52 Total .. .. .. 23,265,768 22,441,212 + 824,556 3-67 Revenue— £ £ £ Ordinary.. .. .. .. 1,538,881 1,475,829 + 63,052 4-27 Season .. .. .. .. 246,765 222,192 + 24,573 11-06 Total .. .. .. 1,785,646 1,698,021 + 87,625 5-16 Passenger train-miles .. .. 5,551,026 5,322,050 + 228,976 4-30 ,, vehicle-miles .. .. 42,767,572 42,342,681 + 424,891 1-00 Revenue— Per mile of line operated .. .. £540 £513 + £27 5 • 26

Description. 1939. 1938. Variation. Journeys. Number. Number. Number. Per Cent. Standard fare .. .. .. 3,429,365 3,431,168 — 1,803 0-05 Suburban .. .. .. .. 1,758,576 1,933,535 -174,959 9-05 Day and special excursion and otter re- 2,625,495 2,704,315 — 78,820 2• 91 duced fares Total .. .. .. 7,813,436 8,069,018 -255,582 3-17 Revenue. £ £ £ Per Cent. Standard fare 1,229,908 1,155,946 + 73,962 6-40 Suburban .. .. .. 61,540 61,363 + 177 0-29 Day and special excursion and other re- 247,433 258,520 — 11,087 4-29 duced fares Total 1,538,881 1,475,829 +63,052 4-27

j j I First Class. Second Class. Total. Number. Per Cent. Number. Per Cent. Number. Per Cent. Journeys .. .. -31,969 7-95 -223,613 2-92 -255,582 3-17 £ £ £ Revenue .. .. + 13,129 4-92 + 49,923 4-13 + 63,052 4-27