A Railway View on Transport ROME interesting comment § on
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road N.-land rail transport, from the, railway aspect, were given last week in an" address by Mr. H. M. Collings to members of the -Industrial Transport Association.
He pointed out that it is only a little over a century since the first railway was opened; yet the railways have become interwoven with every public activity. The period following the war of 1914-18 was a difficult and anxious one for them -on account of the fact that tliey were brought into competition with road transport, which had only' jest been released from Government control. There was room then, as there is now, for both road and rail transport, but to render them beneficial and profit, able to all concerned, the two must be co-ordinated or harmoniied, but at that time no step was taken in this direction, and much traffic went to road hauliers.
Not until 1928 were the main-line railways permitted to operate their own motor coaches and lorries. Two years later the Government hastened to bring road passenger transport under somesort of control. At that time there were on the road great numbers of specially built, and often luxurious, coaches, which appealed to the people as a more pleasurable mode of travelling than by rail, and at a cheaper figure.
In 1933 the system of Government control through licensing -was extendedto cover goods road transport.Mean
while many of the smaller hauliers had been forced out of business; others had succeeded in establishing themselves, Some, to their credit, co-operated with the railways M an effective manner, but there were those who were keenly competitive.
Then to restore to the railways their old prestige and importance as a national asset, there came that " tactical stroke," the appeal for a Square Deal, which campaign lasted for some months and caught the imagination of the public. It also aroused Parliament, and the matter was referred, without delay, to the Transport Advisory Council.,
Earnest and sincere desire for co-operation, apart from any statutory fulfilment Of the T.A.C.'s findings, was shown by both rail and road industries, and the Road and Rail Conference was established to formulate plans which, when Parliament was ready, would be ripe to put into effect. Circumstances altered, and the Square Deal had to be shelved. However, the outbreak of the recently won European war again brought the railways into prominence.
The speaker then dealt with some of the big tasks which the railways had performed during the war period, and their rapid recovery from the effects of bomb incidents.
He proceeded with questions as to the future, and as to the share which the railways would take in post-war days. He asked if-private ownership would be
restored, or whether the Government would retain control, answers to which no one could yet give. In any case, the agreement provided for the continuance of control for a minimum of one year after the cessation of hostilities. In anticipation, those posters asking the public if their journey is really necessary will have to be replaced by others inspiring and stimulating the desire to travel.
Irrespective, however, of whether the control be continued or not, there must be no such fierce competition from road transport as in 1918, and lie had every confidence that the Road and Rail Conference would be helpful in this respect, and that a satisfactory level of understanding would be reached.
To derive a reasonable standard of living the aim must be not only to produce but to produce cheaply, and this will call for bard work, business initiative, courage and efficiency, also-and not the least important—whole-hearted co-operation.
Giving some personal views, Mr. Collings said that as regards export, all engaged in it should make themselves conversant with the trading conditions in the country to which goods are being shipped, also as to -the best method of stencil-marking packages, etc. It is reasonable to suppose that a long period must elapse before adequate packing material becomes available, and it might be desirable to give consideration to making further use of containers, of which an increased number is being made available by the railways. .