RAILWAY-LINES CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. T. Hogan, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1930 Session I, I-18

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1930. NEW ZEALAND.

RAILWAY-LINES CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. J. T. Hogan, Chairman.)

Presented- to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 12th Day of September, 1930. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider the railway-lines under construction as enumerated in the statement which was laid on the table of the House by the Hon. the Prime Minister on the 22nd August, 1930, and to make recommendations therein having regard to all relative circumstances such as—(l) 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) the effect on the finances of the Railways Department; (4) the financial effect if the construction of such lines is carried out; (5) provision for interest and operating charges in the case of railways where the revenue is estimated to be insufficient; (6) the relative cost and utility of rail and road transport of («) primary products to ports, (b) distribution of imports, (c) between centres of population, (d) over gaps between uncompleted sections of lines having regard to cost of transhipments at existing rail-heads, and (e) for developmental purposes; (7) the wisdom of expending borrowed money on such work at the present rate of interest, having regard to the availability of other modes of transport to meet economic requirements; (8) the problem of harbour development with relation to transport of bulky freights such as timber, grain, coal, &c.; (9) the extent to which their completion will induce additional traffic on existing lines; and (10) unemployment relief: three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mi'. Healy, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Howard, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Lye, Mr. Macmillan, the Hon. Mr. Taverner, the Hon. Mr. Veitch, and Mr. Waite."—(Hon. Mr. Ransom.)

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• REPORTS. Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Railway-lines Construction Committee desires to record its high appreciation of the ability and courtesy with which the Chairman, Mr. J. T. Hogan, has conducted the business of the Committee. It further desires that this resolution shall be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. 22nd October, 1930. W. J. Jordan, Member of the Committee.

' :| I _■ •; Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Committee desires to record its appreciation of the efficient manner in which the Clerk of the Railway-lines Construction Committee, Mr. E. A. Dobbie, has carried out his duties; and, further, that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee, and be reported to the House. 25th October, 1930. Jas. T. Hogan, Chairman.

Report. I have the honour to report that the Committee was set up on the 12th September, 1930, to consider the railway-lines under construction as enumerated in the statement which was laid on the Table of the House by the Hon. the Prime Minister on the 22nd August, 1930, and to make recommendations therein having regard to all relative circumstances, such as —(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) the effect on the finances of the Railways Department; (4) the financial effect if the construction of such lines is carried out; (5) provision for interest and operating charges in the case of railways where the revenue is estimated to be insufficient; (6) the relative cost and utility of rail and road transport of (a) primary products to ports, (b) distribution of imports, (c) between centres of population, (d) over gaps between uncompleted sections of lines, having regard to cost of transhipments at existing rail-heads, and (e) for developmental purposes ; (7) the wisdom of expending borrowed money on such work at the present rate of interest, having regard to the availability of other modes of transport to meet economic requirements ; (8) the problem of harbour development with relation to transport of bulky freights such as timber, grain, coal, &c. ; (9) the extent to which their completion will induce additional traffic on existing lines ; and (10) unemployment relief. The Committee has examined the following witnesses: — Mr. H. Valentine, Chief Accountant, New Zealand Government Railways. Mr. G. T. Wilson, Head Office, New Zealand Government Railways (associated with Mr. Valentine). Mr. J. Wood, Inspecting Engineer, Public Works Department. Mr. C. J. McKenzie, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department. Mr. J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary, Lands and Survey Department. Mr. J. S. Hunter, Commissioner of Transport. The Committee regrets that the time at its disposal has been insufficient to make a complete examination of any one of the issues referred to it; and the Committee is of the opinion that if Parliament is to be prorogued on Saturday there is not sufficient time left, to make the required investigations and to render a complete report before the session ends. 21st October, 1930. Jas. T. Hogan, Chairman.

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