Agency
Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into and Report upon the Control, Management, Working and Financial Position of the Victorian Railways
VA 3121
1928 - 1928
Agency names
Officially known as: Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire into and Report upon the Control, Management, Working and Financial Position of the Victorian Railways
The members of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the Control, Management, Working and Financial Position of the Victorian Railways were commissioned on 12 April 1928. The Commission included the following terms of reference:
WHEREAS the Governor of our State of Victoria, with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, has deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to inquire into the control management working and financial position of the Victorian Railways, more especially, but without affecting the generality of the foregoing, as to the following matters, viz:-
(1) The control and administration of the Railways and of the staff employed.
(2) The causes of the heavy and increasing losses on the Railways.
(3) Economies which may be effected by alterations in the present system of control and/or by reductions in staff and/or by reductions in the number and salaries of senior officers.
(4) Factors, including road motor competition, which have diverted and are likely to divert traffic from the Railways and the reasons why former Railway customers utilize motor transport.
(5) What steps, if any, should be taken to control and co-ordinate with the Railways, tramways and competing road motor services.
(6) Whether the carriage of passengers, goods and live-stock has been efficient.
(7) Whether sufficient suitable empty trucks are available and have been promptly supplied on requisition of users.
(8) Whether Railway lands not already used for railway purposes have been properly utilized.
(9) Whether any, and, if so, what provision should be made for depreciation in Railway assets.
(10) Whether there has been economical management in-
(a) the manufacture and/or purchase of and/or installation of plant and material;
(b) the construction of buildings, bridges, platforms and sidings;
(c) the adoption of-
(i) heavier locomotives, with the consequent expenditure on the permanent way,
(ii) trucks of large capacity;
(d) the staffing of the service;
(11) Generally, what steps are desirable to improve the financial position and efficiency of the Railways.
The Royal Commission presented its Report on 5 November 1928.
Location of Records
See below for records of the Royal Commission transferred to the Public Record Office.
WHEREAS the Governor of our State of Victoria, with the advice of the Executive Council thereof, has deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to inquire into the control management working and financial position of the Victorian Railways, more especially, but without affecting the generality of the foregoing, as to the following matters, viz:-
(1) The control and administration of the Railways and of the staff employed.
(2) The causes of the heavy and increasing losses on the Railways.
(3) Economies which may be effected by alterations in the present system of control and/or by reductions in staff and/or by reductions in the number and salaries of senior officers.
(4) Factors, including road motor competition, which have diverted and are likely to divert traffic from the Railways and the reasons why former Railway customers utilize motor transport.
(5) What steps, if any, should be taken to control and co-ordinate with the Railways, tramways and competing road motor services.
(6) Whether the carriage of passengers, goods and live-stock has been efficient.
(7) Whether sufficient suitable empty trucks are available and have been promptly supplied on requisition of users.
(8) Whether Railway lands not already used for railway purposes have been properly utilized.
(9) Whether any, and, if so, what provision should be made for depreciation in Railway assets.
(10) Whether there has been economical management in-
(a) the manufacture and/or purchase of and/or installation of plant and material;
(b) the construction of buildings, bridges, platforms and sidings;
(c) the adoption of-
(i) heavier locomotives, with the consequent expenditure on the permanent way,
(ii) trucks of large capacity;
(d) the staffing of the service;
(11) Generally, what steps are desirable to improve the financial position and efficiency of the Railways.
The Royal Commission presented its Report on 5 November 1928.
Location of Records
See below for records of the Royal Commission transferred to the Public Record Office.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
