ROYAL COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1559, 3 June 1916, Page 3

ROYAL COMMISSION.

TAKING OF EVIDENCE CONCLUDED.

The Commission continued its sitting at Wellington on Thursday. Further examined by Mr Weston, R. W. McYilly, assistant general manager of railways, said he was not prepared to say that the trafilc between Wellington and Palmerston North had increased to any appreciable extent since the Government had taken over the Manawatu line, that; was to say, as far as the local traffic between the two points mentioned was concerned. He corrected a previous statement he had made to the effect that; (he Auckland Harbour Board had paid £BOOO for the railway wharves at Onehunga. The .price paid was £3OOO, but in addition the Harbour Board refunded to the Government; £ISOO for special roading. An area of thirty acres of land was also passed over to the Government. The land in question had mostly to be reclaimed from the sea, but it. was necessary (hat the department should have it. The wharf at. Wailara was not disposed of without an equivalent being given, but he admitted that, the Wellington Harbour Board had received concessions in respect to the old railway’ wharf, and he had been unable to discover how they were brought about.

To Mr Skerrett : He believed that when the traffic, on the Main Trunk line grew to an appreciable extent over the existing volume a branch line from Levin through to Marlon might be necessary, and at some future time it might be worthy of serious consideration by the department. This, however, would not, be brought about until more important works had been completed. The department did not look upon the branch railway from Levin to .Marton as a local one, but of Dominion interest. The war was a factor in the non-prosecution of any but necessary railway works, although the war had not affected the railway returns. Tu run trains over the suggested line would equal about SO,(100 train miles, and this cost would have to be charged against it as an extra charge, as the traflic would be taken a wav from a service that now ex-

isled. The mileage cost was ealenlaled at (is per mile rim. The department objected to the extension of the Sandon tramway to Marion, as the line was not thought to he necessary, and the department would not allow the heavy railway trucks to run over it. The fact that: the Government would have an option over Ihe line and that if it was found In he a compel ing' one it could he taken over, was not a determining' factor in the objection made. The Marlon-Palmerston section of railways curried y heavy traffic, and I he seel ion certainly paid its way.

To Mr Myers ; About half (he trucks used in (lie Xorlb inland could he run over Ihe Sanson tramway. Tin' Manawtitu County Council asked for a connection at Alarton on the ground that such a connection would facilitate the transit of goods along the Alain Trunk line. Willi the tramway running to a dead-end at .Marton, considerable expense would he incurred in transferring coal, timber, and sheep to the Government line. Assuming that the Iraflie on the present railway line doubled itself, it could lie, easily and eHeetiveJy dealt with provided the extra facilities in AIT Hiley’s report were carried out. The assertion made by certain witnesses that motor-lorries could no( serve Ihe Sanson district on account of having to keep to the metalled roads, did not hold gnod in ihe Smith Island, where goods were conveyed by motor-lorries in the AVaimate disI riel (Ton] the homesteads right to Timaru, and competed to an appreciable extent with the railwnv.

Ernest H. Hi ley, general manager for New Zealand railways, stated that the services given by the department as a wharf owner were distinct from that of a railway owner, and in England the accounts, although the railway and docks were controlled by the same eompijny, were kept separate, and the charges received from wharfage was not partly used for the conservancy of the port. The railway company was only compelled to dredge its own docks and (heir entrances. The construction of a new line entailed extra expense for new rolling-stock. Should the tramway line, he extended to Marlon and remain under the control of a body other than the Railway Department, (he controlling body would have to provide his own rolling’ slock, as it Was obvious the department was not going lo supply rolling-stock and allow il to he uscsl over a competing line. 'There would also be objection, assuming that (he tramway was junetioned up with the railway at Marton, to the trucks becoming' mixed with those of the railway.

•foliu Massey Dick, manager for department, gave evidence to the ellecl Dial i( was his experience of the shipping trade with Poxton that the trouble of navigating the river was becoming more ))ronounced. "Vessels trading (o tin: port were oftt'li stuck between the wharf and mouth of the river, and the conditions there were worse (han (hose of navigating the bar. Witness also gave evidence as to (he shipping facilities at Poxton.

Alfred Kingsley Drew, clerk to the Mamiwalu (_ mini tv Council, called by Mr Skcrrcll, in respect to Ibe ireighls chaigcd on the l Sanson tramway, said that in some cases the freight charged was accordin' 1 ’ (0 the Government railway rales, while in others (hey were slightly under, and in a few instances higher. The Government classification of goods was adopted and the freights charged were those laid down by Order-in-Couneil,

This concluded the evidence. Yosterday the Commission heard argument by counsel, and at the conclusion of the addresses, His Honour stilted that the report of the Commission would be made known in about a fortnight.