Railways Extra Document 3

UNIFORM GAUGE FOR THE RAILWAYS OF AUSTRALIA

This question, which was brought forward by us immediately after taking office, has, we regret to say, made very little progress in the way of giving practical effect to bringing about a settlement. We feel that the question is of vital importance to the future of Australia, and must be dealt with at some time or other, and the longer it is postponed the greater will be the cost of the change.

We would respectfully urge that the question be dealt with without further delay, and action taken somewhat on the lines suggested in a letter dated the 18th May, 1889, from the Chief Commissioner to the Honorable the Minister for Railways, which was as follows:-

We have held the view that great advantage could be obtained by all the railways of Australasia if an annual meeting of the principal officers were held to discuss various matters of importance in connection with the working of the lines; these meetings to be followed by a meeting of the Commissioners, or by the chairmen of the respective boards, so as to give executive effect to any recommendations which might be made. At these meetings all questions of importance affecting the economic and efficient working of the various branches of the service could be discussed and the whole of the colonies would obtain the benefit of the united ability employed by the various Governments. Such meetings would also, in our opinion, bring about a broader view on all railway questions and promote harmonious working.

Beyond a special meeting in regard to the adoption of an uniform rule-book and the discussion of an uniform classification of goods, nothing has been done, principally owing to the change of system of railway control in Victoria.

The question, however, is of such great importance to the whole of the colonies that it is brought forward again in this manner in the hope that the idea may bear fruit in the future.

Excerpt from FEDERAL CONVENTION, 1897 (RETURN to the ORDER of the CONVENTION (March 24th, 1897), LAID on the TABLE by the CLERK and ORDERED to be PRINTED, April 2nd 1897.) [Extract from the Supplement to the Railway Commissioners' annual reports, dated November 19th, 1894.], SLV, MS 10037, MSB 130.