§ Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Transport whether the railways are being conducted extravagantly; if so, is no effort being made to lower fares and rates; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI think the present organisation of the railway companies is necessarily more costly than it need be, and that very material economies can be secured by the proposals which the Government have made for the future, and which are now being worked out, both in regard to the grouping of the railways, and in regard to standardisation. These economies should undoubtedly be reflected in the level of rates and fares, and account must be taken of them in any further revision which may take place. Every effort is being made to check operating efficiency through the medium of statistics and cost figures, but I fear that unless and until the Government's proposals are sanctioned in principle by Parliament, little immediate progress is likely to be made under the individual management of the companies, and that consequently no immediate reduction of rates from this cause will be practicable. High cost of living, reflected in the increase in sliding scale payments, the state of affairs in Ireland, and the recent strike are all adverse factors in the situation.