 In 1952, a Royal Commission was established to investigate and report on all matters pertaining to the assets and operations of New Zealand Railways.This elicited responses from various parties in the Nelson region with vested interests, including a deputation that submitted a demand that "the gap" be closed to allow the Nelson Section to reach its full potential, as well as those – primarily from the road transport industry – who wanted to see the railway closed.The commission's report included lists of those lines that should be closed and those that should remain under review.