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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 60
North Island Trunk Railway
North Island Trunk Railway.
This subject has at various times been before your Committee, and during last session Parliament decided on the Central route viâ Marton.
page 9
"That this Chamber, whilst believing that the Western route proposed for the North Island Main Trunk Railway would be best for the commercial interests of Auckland, and most immediately remunerative to the Colony, resolved notwithstanding to recommend our representatives not to obstruct the Central route as adopted by the Committee of the House, but endeavour to obtain a pledge for the construction of branch lines to open districts to the westward of the main line."
The connection of the Main Trunk Line with the West and East Coasts is so obviously essential for the further development of the commercial interests of the Province, that it will be the duty of succeeding Committees to steadily keep in view the necessity of procuring the junction of the Trunk Line with the chief ports on the East and West Coasts.
The railway returns for the past financial year have been published, and the results are satisfactory as exhibiting the increased material prosperity of the North Island—the increase of revenue over expenditure for this island being 11 shillings per cent., as against 8 shillings and 1 penny for the Middle Island. The North Island, possessing only 476 miles, constructed at a cost of £3,740,631, yielded £2 6s. 2d. net rate of interest. The Middle Island, with 928 miles, at a cost of £7,511,002, yielded £3 11s. 7d. net rate of interest.
Members will have observed that the Government propose to improve the effective working of the railways by the constitution of Boards of Commissioners, to whom will be entrusted the general management of the railways. It will be the duty of this Chamber to see that the interests of this Province are protected, and that this Chamber's representation on any such Board should be procured. The Committee refer to their successors the questions of differential rating, of reductions in passenger fares, and of how best to develop the trade and resources of our district by means of the railway.