§ 6. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what are the circumstances in which the Government of India has nationalised the properties of the Burma Railway Company at the beginning of this year; and why this company was not allowed to carry on by private enterprise?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe hon. and gallant Gentleman is under a misapprehension. The Burma Railways have always been the property of the State, but from 1896 to 1928 they were worked for the Government by the Burma Railways Company under a contract which was terminable, at the option of the Government, on the 31st December, 1928. In accordance with the wishes of the Burma Government and the Local Legislature and on the recommendation of the Government of India it was decided not to prolong the existence of the Burma Railways Company and to transfer the management of the line to the State as from 1st January last.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it the opinion of the Government of India and of Burma that the State can manage these railways better than this private company?
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not the case that, when this whole matter was discussed in India, it was not a question of whether the State or private management was better from the point of view of management, but that in the peculiar conditions in India it was thought that the State should manage the railway as being already the largest holder of capital?
§ Earl WINTERTONThat is so. The point is that the railways were always the property of the State, but they were worked by the railway company, and it is now intended that they shall be worked by the State.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDo the Government of India and of Burma consider that the State can manage these railways better than the company?
§ Earl WINTERTONObviously, they would not take them over unless they thought they could manage them properly. If the hon. and gallant Member is seeking to make a political and controversial point, I would draw attention to the fact that the conditions in this country and in India differ.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill this case be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister?
§ Earl WINTERTONNo, Sir, because there is no resemblance between conditions in this country and in India in this respect.
Mr. BECKETTWhy is it that the Indian Government are considered fit to run railway undertakings and the British Government are not?