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annual cost, and it seems to us that, in equity, some payment should be made to the Railways Department on this account. The basis on which such payment could be fixed is rather a difficult one, but traffic tallies might be taken at the larger bridges so that the proportion of passenger and goods traffic using the bridges by railway or road could be arrived at and the payment based on the information thus obtained. Your Commission recommends that tallies be made of the traffic passing over these bridges, and that the necessary legislative authority be obtained so that an additional payment can be made by the Main Highways Board to the Railways Department. (12) Whether the rolling-stock is being economically maintained at a proper standard of safety and efficiency. Locomotives. —In connection with the repairs of locomotives, a system is in operation whereby a standard divisional mileage rating for locomotives is fixed ; this, together with the condition of a locomotive, serves as a sound basis for determining the time at which a general overhaul should be made. Running and light repairs are undertaken as occasion demands, and do not necessitate sending engines to the main locomotive shops. The system of pooling locomotives now in vogue will no doubt effect economy in transportation costs, but we are of opinion that it will increase the cost of repairs if it is applied generally ; this aspect should be taken into account when estimating the value of the system. The cost of locomotive repairs and engine-mileage run for the year ended 31st March, 1930, and for the two preceding years were as under Cost of Locomotive Repairs. Engine Mileage. £ 1928 .. .. .. .. 593,454 15,383,051 1929 .. .. .. .. 586,105 16,150,146 1930 .. .. .. .. 768,645 16,735,624 The cost of maintaining locomotives increased considerably in 1930, due to the change over to the new locomotive-shops at Hutt and Hillside. During the transition period repairs fell into arrears, and this necessitated the employment of additional men on night shifts and at overtime rates to overtake the work. In 1930, 241 engines received a general overhaul, as compared with 153 in 1929 and 189 in 1928. This should effect a reduction in the number of locomotives to be overhauled this year, with a consequent reduction in expenditure estimated at approximately £80,000. Even if this is so, the present-day cost will still be greater than it was prior to 1930. Provided, however, sufficient work passes through the shops to keep them fully employed the overhead charges should diminish, with a corresponding decrease in the cost of repairs. Cars, Vans, and Wagons.—During the last three years the cost of repairs to cars, vans, and wagons was as follows : — Cars and Vans. Wagons. £ £ 1928 .. .. .. .. 188,157 342,598 1929 .. .. .. .. 199,503 380,475 1930 .. .. .. .. 219,774 428,989 The train-mileage in 1930 was higher than in 1928 and 1929, but the increase in cost of maintaining rolling-stock is largely due to the change-over to the new shops. The expenditure required for the present year will, we believe, be lower than for last year, but to what extent we are unable to say. General repairs in the main shops are regulated by the condition of the vehicles which when overhauled are brought up to a set standard of safety and efficiency. The Westinghouse brake equipment and running-gear are, however, regularly overhauled and kept in good order.