S 4
27. Every effort was made in the direction of economy as indicated by the following figures:-
Percentage of Traffic and Running Expenses to total Revenue 1931 1932 Traffic Expenses 9.86% 8.38% Running Expenses 27.30% 24.89%whilst the percentage of total operating expenditure to Revenue was 74.27% as compared with 86.30% in 1931.
28. Road motor competition received careful attention during the year, more particularly as during the last quarter a Motor Bus Company was granted permission to run a service on the road running parallel to the railway between the stations of Taipo Market, Mile 143, and Sheung Shui, Mile 19½.
29. The number of passengers travelling between the stations of Yaumati, Mile 24, and Shatin, Mile 7, which are only one stage apart, increased to such an extent that extra coaches had to be attached to certain trains to accommodate them. This resulted in unremunerative coach journeys of some 19 miles and from March 1st, the 3rd class fare was increased from 10 cents to 15 cents and the warrant fares altered accordingly.
30. At the request of the New Territories Agricultural Association, free passes were issued to farmers of the New Territories enabling them to view the exhibits at the Empire Products Fair held in the Colony on May 23rd and 24th. Free transport for exhibits, and cheap fare facilities were granted to the Association in connection with two Agricultural Shows organised by it during the year. Unfortunately it has to be recorded that no reciprocity has been shown by farmers in sending their produce by rail.
31. On November 1st, a new timetable came into force in which the time of the express trains to Canton was reduced from 3 hours 26 minutes to 3 hours and 10 minutes on the Up Journey, and 8 hours and 8 minutes for the Down. This is the quickest running time between the two cities yet accomplished in the history of the Line and the increased numbers travelling by these trains exceeded expectations.
32. The through fares were increased on November 16th without any falling off in the numbers travelling.