shat of any other State of the 
Commonwealth, and it is on 
account of such special circum- 
stances that efficient meaus of 
transport are essential if Tas- 
mania is to develop and progress. 
The Commonwealth has already 
assisted Tasmania financially and 
has further expressed its intention 
of helping Tasmania to overcome 
her difficulties, to retain her popu- 
lation and to increase her produc- 
tion; but unless adequate regular 
and continuous means of com- 
munications are provided to 
snable the products of the State 
to be readily and cheaply 
marketed, these efforts will be 
wasted. . 
““ Tasmania, as well as other 
States of the Commonwealth, 
though perhaps to a greater 
degree, has, in the opinion of the 
Committee, suffered as a result of 
the operation of the Navigation 
Act; its industries havebeen handi- 
capped, the establishment of new 
business has been prevented, and, 
generally, the development of the 
State has been hindered. Nob 
only has the Act failed in its pur- 
pose to create an Australian Mer- 
cantile Marine and to improve 
‘ransport facilities, but it has, in 
effect, created two monopolies— 
the interstate shipping companies 
on the one hand, and the seamen 
sn the other. The Committee, 
therefore, recommends that the 
coasting trade section of the 
Navigation Act be repealed. 
‘To restore in some measure 
2 service which Tasmania at one 
time enjoyed, and which it is con- 
sidered will be well patronized, 
the Committee recommends the 
amendment of the mail contract 
with the Orient Steam Navigation 
Company to provide for an addi- 
tional call at Hobart to be made 
during the peak of the tourist 
season when interstate passengers 
should be carried.” 
29. We are of opinion that the Com- 
mittee’s suggestion should be carried 
into effect, and that all possible bene- 
fits in regard to navigation should be 
given to Tasmania. 
30. In the course of our inquiry it 
1as also been suggested to usthatships’ 
itores brought by overseas vessels for 
the purpose of running the ship should 
se free of customs duty, i.e., should 
se distinguished from stores which are 
old or consumed by passengers. We 
upport this suggestion. It is one 
hing to ensure that while the ship is 
inder Australian jurisdiction passen- 
ters on board shall not be able to pur- 
‘hase goods at a cheaper rate than if 
hey were on shore in an Australian 
eaport, but it is another thing to 
say that stores essential for the work 
of the ship, not bought in Australia, 
ut brought there on the ship, should 
we subject to a special tax because 
shey happen to be first taken into use 
vhile the ship is in Australian waters. 
Roads, Motor Transport, and 
Tramways. 
31. The following are the general 
tatistics in regard to this subject: — 
Roads.—Data in respect of the mile- 
ize of Australian roads are very 
veagre, and are not uniform for the 
everal States, and in one of the States 
10 such statistics are collected; it is, 
1owever, officially estimated that there 
ire in all approximately 80,000 miles 
f roads whose surfaces have been 
raved, concreted, metalled or gravelled. 
The total length of surveyed roads in 
\ustralia probably exceeds 400,000 
niles, of which much is still in its 
1atural condition. 
Tramways.— 
Australian Tramwavs, 1926-27. 
(Street Railways for the Convevance 
of Passengers.) 
Motive Power. 
Route 
Mileage. 
Cost of 
Construction 
and Bquip- 
ment. 
Electric... ves 
Steam... ve 
Cable ... es 
Horse ... “. 
Miles. 
538 4 
70-6 | 
33-7 
QR 
£ 
93,453,826 
650,091 
1,729,398 
18515 
Total ...! 45-9 | 95.851.830