§ 76. Mr. SUGDENasked the President of the Board of Trade if facilities will be given for the pre-war practices of wagon use and transport as well as road haulage, for whereas in 1913 merchandise, in the; majority of cases, in Lancashire towns for transport was collected and reached most English destinations in fourteen hours, the collection and delivery of such goods to-day is worse than even in the most crucial war times when railways were crowded with war materials. ten to fourteen days being a usual period required to collect and deliver goods a distance of only seven miles?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware that there is at present serious congestion of railway traffic and consequent delays in some districts. Special attention is being given to the matter by the Railway Executive Committee, and I hope that the situation will improve shortly. The railways are, unfortunately, not in a position to revert to pre-war practices.