I.—lB

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.)