§ 16. Mr. PETOasked whether any practical steps have been taken to provide the necessary labour to work the canal barges on the Kennett and Avon Canal: and whether anything has been done by the Railway Executive or Port and Transit Committee to facilitate the transference of goods for inland carriage from Avon-mouth to Bristol so that water transport may be available?
Mr. ROBERTSThe provision of labour to work the barges on the canals in this country is, as the hon. Gentleman will be aware, a question of the greatest difficulty, and urgent need for labour exists on canals which are important from the national point of view. The question of the further utilisation of the Kennett and Avon Canal will be considered with the question of the further utilisation of other canals, but so long as the present shortage of canal labour exists the solution of the problem is not easy. I doubt whether the adoption of the suggestion in the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question involving, as apparently it does, cartage and a short haul by rail, would secure any economy in or facilitation of the handling of traffic. I have had a letter on this subject from the Avonmouth Co-ordination Committee, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Gentleman.