AN EXAMPLE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2092, 29 May 1907, Page 1

AN EXAMPLE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

A commission was lately appointed in Cape Colony (says the Daily Telegraph’s correspondent) to devise sons means of saving the colony from “political” railways—that is to say, lines built from tlie point of view of party expediency and not because they were likely to bo financially or commercially successful. Dr. Smartt, the Commissioner of .Public Works, acted as chairman. Within eleven days of its first meeting the commission decided unanimously upon a report, the substance: of which is a recommendation for tlie establishment of, a railway Advisory Board, to advise the Minister responsible for the control of the Railway Department on all large questions of policy.. It, is to he tho duty of the Board to advise upon all questions of policy, including the fix-

ing of rates and fares, the estimates to be submitted to Parliament, and alterations of wages or hours of employment. No proposal tor a new line will be presented to Parliament, if the, Commission’s proposals are carried out, unless it is accompanied by a full and exhaustive report by the Board, setting forth the capital expenditure to ho incurred, estimates of the cost of working, of the probable volume of traffic to be handled, and of the revenue likely to bo earned, and also the probable effect on the traffic and earnings of existing lines.