STANDARDISING THE RAILWAYS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 19 January 1912, Page 5

STANDARDISING THE RAILWAYS.

THE QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION,

(Received Jan. 19, 8.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Jan. 19. The Premiers' Conference has resolved to favor the appointment of a committee of the leading railway engineers to report on the question of a uniform gauge between the capital cities, and the cost of conversion.

New South Wales and Westralia voted against the motion on the ground that the report. was unlikely to view the differing claims of the various States. The .Commonwealth could bring nearer the solution, of the question by securing uniformity. The assistance given to immigrants was referred to the heads of the State Immigration Department. It was further resolved to ask the Commonwealth Government to provide twentyfive thousand assisted passengers : and immigrants yearly, paying the cost of transportation on a uniform basis, the States to select and place the immigrants, with the right to supplement the number of assisted passengers allotted.

/ The Conference appointed Dr Ashburton. Thompson a Royal Commission to enquire and report upon the standardisation of the food products of the. various States.