PM Transcripts

COPY OF LETTER FROM THiE PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND
TO THE PRIME MINISTER DATED 28TH OCTOBER, 1959
My dear Prime Minister, My Government gratefully accepts the offer
to finance the construction of the Mount Isa Railway Project as
outlined in your letter of the 26th instant.
In order that there be no delays in
reaching final agreement on all points, we have already commenced
to prepare the details as set out in paragraphs one to three in
the annexure to your letter. At this stage, all our advices are
that the Project will broadly encompass the full scheme as
outlined in the Ford Bacon and Davis reports.
We are firmly of the opinion that Mount
Isa Mines Limited should complete a freight agreement with my
Government and have no doubt that they will acquiesce in completing
such an agreement, substantially along the lines tentatively
agreed on previously. I agree with you that minor matters can be
clarified later when your proposal is being written into agreement
form. You will be pleased to know that Ford Bacon
and Davis will be asked by my Government to not only act as
Engineer-Managers, but also to prepare an operating schedule for
our northern line. Additionally, they will be asked to make a
review of the entire operation of our complete railway system.
This project will I believe, be of tremendous
benefit not only to Queensland but to the whole of Australia,
as it will open wide to development one of the richest mineral
and pastoral areas of the Commonwealth. It is particularly
significant that this agreement should have be-en -brou-ght to
fruition in Queen-sland's-Certenar--Year,-
My colleagues and I deeply appreciate your
Government's interest, and particularly the part played personally
by yourself and your Treasurer in making such a material
contribution to the successful conclusion of the ' Lengthy and
difficult ne., otiations that have taken place in connection with
the Project. Please accept our sincere thanks.
I would suggest that you be responsible for
the release to the Press, but would appreciate it if you would
advise me when you are making such release.
Kind regards, Yours sincerely,
Frank Nicklin
Premier