Senator McCOLL - The answers to the honorable senator's questions are: -

1.   A Bill will be submitted to Parliament this session to authorize the construction of a line from Fine Creek to Katherine River, being the first section of the Transcontinental line. Parliament will also be asked to provide funds for trial surveys with the object of continuing that railway and so connecting Darwin with Port Augusta viâ MacDonnell Ranges.

2.   Particulars regarding Brennan's Mono-rail have been in the possession of the Government for a considerable time. The matter has been investigated by Mr. Deane, Commonwealth Engineer-in-Chief, who some time ago reported as follows in connexion with the suggested use of the system on the Kalgoorlie-Port Augusta line : - " It is a system that is perfectly well known. . . . exhaustive inquiries have been made by the experts, as a result of which it would appear that the Brennan Mono-rail system is not at all suitable for the proposed line."