State Aid 



miles for 2d. ! Their rates are generally in accor- 

 dance with the examples given, and are startling 

 to the British agriculturist, who is accustomed 

 to fierce opposition to his railway needs, and, 

 if anything, a discrimination in favour of the 

 foreigner. 



In the last generation, in England, there have 

 been innumerable cases where light railways have 

 been planned. They would be desirable to develop 

 the localities concerned, and would benefit 

 these enormously, but the existing railways and 

 landowners have opposed them, and then the 

 capital has not been forthcoming, and they fall 

 to the ground. The Government will grant a 

 million or so for a railway in Uganda, but for 

 British agricultural lines — not a copper — not 

 even a Belgian guarantee. There is no doubt 

 that the adoption of such a system would benefit 

 us all, but Englishmen are too conservative. They 

 fear State aid, and shrink from the cry of 

 " Socialism." The Belgians, French, Germans, 

 and Danes, do not fear it, the Prussians have 

 long owned their railways, the Japanese have 

 recently bought theirs, whilst the American 

 Government spends millions a year to help the 

 farmer. An account of the latter would need a 

 volume, and there can be no doubt but that 

 agriculturally we are put to shame. Our only 



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