RAILWAY WORKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1075, 12 September 1930, Page 8

RAILWAY WORKS

PROPOSED LINES TO B? INVESTIGATED SPECIAL COMMITTEE SET UP THE SUN’S Parliamentary Report** WELLINGTON, Thurso, According to what was generally e *. pected, the Government today referred the report on the railways under construction in New Zealand to a selec> committee, with a wide order of reference. The committee is charged to make recommendations upon the report, having regard to all the relative circumstances. j Tho Acting-Prime Minister, the Hon K. A. Ransom, moved in that direction. stating that the range of inquiry would include: 1. Land settlement and probable development in districts which would be served by continuation of such railways. 2. Estimation of benefit and convenience to general public. 3. Effect on the finances of the Railway Department.. 4. Provision for interest and operating charges in the case of railways where the revenue is estimated to be insufficient. 5. The relative cost and utility of rail and road transport of (a) prinv ary products to ports, (b) distribution [of imports, (c) between centres of ' population, (d) over gaps between uncompleted sections of the lines, having regard to the cost of transhipments at existing railheads, (e) for developmental purposes. 6. The problem of harbour development with relation to long-distance transport of bulky freights such as timber, grains, coal, etc. 7. The extent to which their completion will induce additional traffic on existing lines. 8. Unemployment relief. The committee is to consist of Messrs. E. F. Ilealy (United —-Wairau), J, T. Hogan (Independent—Rangitikei). E. J. Howard (Labour —Christchurch South), D. Jones (Reform —MidCanterbury), W. J. Jordan (Labour— Manukau), F. Lye (United —Waikato). C. E. Macmillan (Reform —Tauranga). the Hon. W. B. Taverner. Minister of Public Woks: the Hon. W. A. Veitch. Minister of Railways; and Mr. F. Waite (Reform —Clutha). “IN WRONG ORDER" The Leader of the Opposition, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, stated that the order of reference did not cover the whole situation, and he thought that it was in the wrong order. He suggested that the real questions were the financial capacity of the country to carry on the railway undertaking during a time of financial difficulty, and whether road transport could not meet economic requirements. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, asked if the committee were to be a sessional one. or a recess one as well. The Acting-Prime Minister said that the committee was to be a sessional one. The Government, he said, was anxious to have the fullest information possible concerning the lines, and did not want to place any restrictions on tho committee regarding the scope of its investigations. If it were not possible to report during the session, the Government would consider continuing the inquiry in the recess. In answer to Mr. Coates. Mr. Ransom said he would include a provision that the committee should have power to order any investigation deemed necessary. Mr. Coates said he would submit a draft of his proposed additions to the order of reference.