Appendix II. 179 



Society ; J. Duke Smith, representing the Chamber of Commerce ; J. 

 Gillespie, representing the Planters' Association ; and A. F. White 

 representing the Balata Industry. 



The Honourable J. B. Laing was proposed as chairman by the 

 Honourable the Government Secretary, and was unanimously elected. 

 After considerable discussion it was proposed, and unanimously carried, 

 that a Sub-Committee be formed to go into the whole question and 

 formulate resolutions for discussion at the Committee's next meeting. 



The following gentlemen were appointed members of the Sub- 

 Committee : — 



The Hons. J. B. Laing, Chairman ; C. Clementi, J. J. Xunan, 

 J. Hampden King, E. C. Buck, and A. P. Sherlock, Messrs. C. W. Prest, 

 J. S. McArthur, and J. Duke Smith. 



The Sub-Committee held two meetings and drafted ten resolutions 

 which were submitted at the meeting of the Committee held on Monday, 

 the 4th May, 1914, when all the members (including Mr. Duncan, Mr. 

 Downer, Dr. Rohlehr, Mr. Wreford and Mr. Bice, who were absent from the 

 first meeting of the Committee) were present, except Mr. C. F. Wietino- 

 who had left the colony in the interval. 



Considerable discussion in public took place on the resolutions and 

 several amendments thereto were passed. 



The resolutions as amended and unanimously adopted, are as 

 follows : — 



1. This Committee strongly supports the proposal to construct a 

 Hinterland Railway if combined with a colonization and development 

 scheme ; and recommends : — 



2. That work on the railway shall be open to all labourers free in 

 the colony. 



3. That immigrants under contract be imported yearly for the first 

 five years to replace the labourers withdrawn from the coastal and river 

 districts for work on the Railway and for taking up land under the 

 colonization scheme. 



4. That the railway shall be of metre gauge so as to allow of trans- 

 continental railway communication without change of engine or 

 carriage. 



5. That the question of whether the railway should be built by the 

 Government or by contractors be left to His Majesty's Government foi 

 final decision. 



6. That the Secretary of State be asked to sanction a loan aggregat- 

 ing £2,000,000— at lowest possible rate of interest, of which loan 

 £1.400,000 be allocated for railway construction, deficit on working 



