340 DO THE RAILWAYS HELP THE FARMERS? 



the desired object. Under this arrangement 

 a consignment weighing 24 lbs., and compris- 

 ing (say) two couple of ducks or fowls, 24 eggs, 

 2 lb. or 3 lb. of butter, a tin of cream, with a 

 certain quantity of fruit or vegetables, can be 

 sent on the Great Western 50 miles by pas- 

 senger train, and delivered at the house of the 

 consumer (provided he lives within the usual 

 limits) for an inclusive charge of sixpence. It 

 seems scarcely possible, from the railway stand- 

 point, that traffic such as this can be made to 

 pay ; but in any case it affords conclusive 

 evidence of a desire to "help the farmer." 



The third group of requests related to agri- 

 cultural produce for markets and large traders. 

 Low rates for such produce by fast merchandise 

 train were asked for, with authority to lump 

 together or aggregate the various descriptions 

 of articles on conditions that would enable the 

 producers to make such loads as to justify the 

 despatch of through trucks direct to the towns 

 to be served. Here, again, the desired conces- 

 sion was made, new tables of rates being pre- 

 pared and issued to meet the arrangement 

 stated ; though when it came to getting the 

 farmers themselves to group their lots, so that 

 they could take advantage of the facilities thus 

 granted, a good deal of difficulty was experienced. 



