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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BOARD (REPORT BY THE).

Laid before Parliament pursuant to Subsection (2) of Section 18 of the Government Railways Amendment Act, 1931.

Wellington, 9th September 1931, To the Hon. the Minister of Railways. Sir, — The Board has the honour to report in terms following : — INTRODUCTORY. The Board since its appointment under the Government Railways Amendment Act, 1931, has given initial attention to numerous questions concerning the railway system. The purpose of the Board at the outset has been chiefly to familiarize itself with the work entrusted to it. First, attention was given to the highly important financial obligations of the Department, the object being to gain a knowledge of what is involved from the standpoint of the national, commercial, and domestic interests which the system serves and which it is necessary to protect and develop. The Board, from the outset, has had the fullest assistance from the General Manager of Railways and from the chief executive officers of the Department. The Government Railways Amendment Act, 1931, clearly defines the position and functions of the Board, and incidental to vesting power in the Board " to carry on, control, manage, and maintain the Government railways to the end that the railways, while being maintained as a public service in the interests of the people of New Zealand and as an essential factor in the development of trade and industry, shall be so carried on, controlled, managed, and maintained on the most economical basis, having regard to the economic and financial conditions from time to time affecting the public revenues and trade and industry in New Zealand, with a view to obtaining a maximum of efficiency and maintaining a proper standard of safety and a reasonable standard of comfort and convenience for persons using the railways and any other services carried on in connection therewith," the Legislature gave the Board authority to report upon — (a) Proposed new railway-lines, (b) Railway-lines on which construction work has been suspended, (c) Railway-lines in course of construction, in the manner following Section 18: —• " (1) Where after the commencement of this Act any special Act authorizing the construction of any Government railway is passed without a report by the Board on the proposed railway being first laid before Parliament no work in connection with such construction shall, save as such special Act expressly otherwise directs, be undertaken until a report by the Board respecting the railway so authorized is laid before both Houses of Parliament and a resolution approving such work is passed by both such Houses.

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