Orders of the Day — Railways Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 26 May 1921.

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Photo of Mr James Kidd Mr James Kidd , Linlithgowshire

The Minister of Transport at the very outset of his speech brought forward what we all expect from a technical expert, that is figures, and he quoted as an example that the cost in Scotland was .9 per ton as against .4 in America. If his figures meant anything at all he intended the House to assume that the administration of British railways was 2½ times worse than in America. Perhaps when the right hon. Gentleman replies he will give us some other figures, and tell us how the cost of plant and capital outlay in America is so much less than it is in the Highlands of Scotland. If the right hon. Gentleman could roll out the hills of Scotland and fill up the lakes, then we might understand the comparison.

I ask the right hon. Gentleman before the close of this Debate to favour the House, and the Labour party in particular, with another set of figures. I should like to hear from him what the percentage of accidents is on American railways in regard to railway servants and the general public. I should like him also to contrast those figures with the accidents to railway servants in Great Britain and to the general public arising from railway accidents. I cannot speak with expert knowledge upon this subject, but speaking with a general knowledge of the industries in America as contrasted with this country, and with a knowledge of the mode of conducting the mining industry in America in contrast with the mode adopted in this country, I venture to say that the railway accidents in America are far in excess of the railway accidents in this country, and therefore the inference is that we attach a little more value to human life in this country and a little less to the almighty dollar. I hope if this Bill goes through, and the right hon. Gentleman undertakes the control of the railway system of this country, that he will pursue British methods and abjure American methods, even if they do return a better revenue by ignoring unduly public safety.

Speaking as a member of the public, I am entitled to ask the right hon. Gentleman what was wrong with the pre-War railway system in this country. We understand that during the War our railways had to be divorced from their natural work, and instead of running in co-operation with industry and promoting the national prosperity, they were concentrated upon the work of being auxiliaries to the fighting forces. The mere fact that they were such valuable auxiliaries is conclusive proof that in pre-War days the railway system of this country was conducted in an eminently satisfactory way. Speaking again as a humble member of the British public, and as one who is lucky enough not to be a shareholder, what grounds have I to object to competition amongst the railway companies? We have heard a good deal about the extravagance of the railway companies in the past; at any rate, the old extravagance did stimulate commerce, but I am afraid the new extravagance will strangle it. If the railway rates are fixed, how can the extravagance of the companies be hurtful to the public who are protected by these fixed rates. The right hon. Gentleman enquires how otherwise than from the public could the costs be redeemed. In the past it was redeemed by the increased energy and initiative of the old railway system, and we certainly shall not have that increased energy in the future from a bureaucratic system, and there will be no chance of redeeming losses in that way.

The right hon. Gentleman is going to set up a rates tribunal. It is only by the grace of this tribunal that the revenue of the railway companies is to be earned, and from that revenue the salaries of the rates tribunal members are to be paid. Is that not a little like putting the gamekeeper in the pay of the poacher, which is a very excellent device for the poacher, but what about the preservation of the game, which is represented in this case by the public interest. Then the right hon. Gentleman, with a kind of uneasy soul on this point, realised that personal initiative, individual enterprise, had made this country, and he tried to run in harness his new bureaucratic system with individual enterprise stimulated by profit. If the revenue of the railways is to exceed the standard revenue, then to the extent of 80 per cent. that increase is to go to the traders, while to the extent of 20 per cent. it is to go to the shareholders. Is this not our old friend Excess Profits Duty back in another form? Supposing I am managing a railway company, if I know that any increase in my revenue is to be consumed to the extent of 80 per cent., then I shall be regardless of the extra charges cast upon myself. I do not want to say anything except what is eminently respectful to the right hon. Gentleman, whose ability in a certain domain is recognised by all; but might I say this? A man may be a most excellent administrator of a railway, and yet disqualified from visualising the national view and introducing a railway system appropriate to the national commerce and the national condition. The administrative mind and the legislative mind are so separate and distinct, that I think it has always been assumed that they are mutually exclusive. That fact, at least, has been accepted so far as the Parliamentary institutions of this country are concerned, and one would like to see that fact recognised a good deal more to-day.

10.0 P.M.

I am sorry I have to return to Scotland, otherwise I should have liked to have replied at length to the right hon. Gentleman's rather elephantine humour at the expense of our common country. I just, want to say, before I leave, there is a proverb that says, "It is an ill bird that fouls its ain nest." I would only say this further word. I listened to the excellent speech of the right hon. Baronet (Sir F. Banbury) in which he referred to the promises that were given to us when the Transport Department was set up. When I contrast those promises with the achievement of to-day, I recall the lines, By the rubbish in our wake,And the noble noise we make,Be sure, be sure, we're going to do some splendid things. Many ardent supporters of the Government are left by the Bill to make the choice, loyalty to the Government or duty to their country. When I think of the way in which the right hon. Gentleman has jettisoned the Northern part of Great Britain, and jettisoned the various enterprises which have opened up the Highlands to everybody—Highlands which, under his rule, would have remained a close preserve, except to the man enjoying the luxury of a car—when I think of all that, then I have only to say this, in bidding "Goodnight" to the right hon. Gentleman. I have decided to make my choice, and, if it is possible at all, by any effort of mine, to defeat his Measure, I shall certainly do so.