Whither Transport?
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Mr. L. W. Cupivell Produces Figures Which Completely Refute the Railway Companies' Plea That Road t Transport is Responsible For Their Diminished Revenues A COMPREHENSIVE and interesttt ing paper, to which he gave the title "Whither Transport," was read by Mr. L. W. Gupwell before the Mansion House Association, at Manchester, on Monday last. The author emphasized the fact that transport has long been regarded as a public utility service and that the State has exercised the right to regulate its activity in the public interest.
Referring to the railways' current agitation for a "square deal," he voiced the opinion that, as the initial objective, a short Bill, quickly passed. had not been achieved, the railway companies wOuld now turn their attention to nationalization as a preferable alternative to continuing as they are at present.
• In this connection he drew attention to the extraordinary change in the attitude of the railways since about 18 months ago when, in their memorandum to the T.A.C., they stated that they did not desire fundamental alterations to the railway rates structure, or exemption from their customary obligations.
A complete refutation of the railway companies' plea, that road transport is responsible for the diminution in their revenues, is indicated by some figures relating to railway traffics and revenues. The following is quoted direct from Mr. Gupwell's paper.
" As continual play is being made of the financial aspect, it would be as well to refer briefly to railway receipts for last year. Whilst admitting that they were just over £7,000,000 less than in 1937, we have to remember that the trade recession was general, and was felt seriously by other forms of transport. Further, the major portion ofthis decline was represented by a falling-off in coal, coke and other mineral traffic. The repercussions of this decline are clearly indicated in pig. iron, which shows a decline, in com. parison with 1937, of 1,750,000 tons, whilst steel ingots, etc., show a decline of just over 2,500,000 tons, and this traffic, I would reiterate, is practically immune from competition on the part of road transport.
"It might also be an advantage to remind you that, in 1937, the railway companies conveyed 859,153 tons of non-rail-borne traffic and that their investment in goods road-transport undertakings, as at December 31, 1937, was approximately £4,500,000."
He points out, with considerable emphasis, that if the railway companies' present demands were granted in their entirety, and the present restrictions on hauliers retained, it would be a simple matter for the railways completely to destroy the road transport industry.