56 Irish Railways and the State, 



|d per lb., according to the class. Special trains are given to 

 the fish traffic for consignments as low as 20 tons. 



Increase in train mileage represents increase in pubHc 

 facilities, and in respect of increase in passenger and goods 

 train mileage Irish railways are i per cent, and 8 per cent, 

 respectively ahead of English railways, while the tonnage and 

 number of passengers increased by 21 per cent, and 28 per 

 cent., which compares very favourably with England. The 

 corresponding receipts only increased by 17 percent, and 13 

 per cent. Irish railways therefore do not seem to be neglecting 

 the public. The recent amalgamations will be a benefit, 

 working expenses will be reduced ; competition in Ireland is 

 impossible, and itself would merely result in amalgamation or 

 the pooling of traffic. Dissatisfaction with Irish railways is 

 therefore unreasonable ; the requirements of Ireland are 

 served ; to provide facilities in excess would be financially im- 

 possible. 



Defects in private management are not the cause of State 

 management of railways on the Continent. There the Govern- 

 ments had generally to construct railways themselves in the 

 absence of effective private enterprise, or they acquired private 

 lines merely to consolidate their military strength. In France 

 unimpared company monopoly has been the price of State 

 control ; in Belgium the efficiency of the State railways is due 

 to their long competition with once privately-owned railways. 

 Rates founded on ' cost of service ' is the motto on which every 

 Government started business. The theory proved unworkable, 

 and Governments had, like companies, to charge ' what the 

 traffic would bear.' The latter principle makes to a large ex- 

 tent the advancement of railway prosperity involve the ad- 

 vancement of the district served. 



Governments cannot manage commercial undertakings well. 

 They do not reduce rates, except on popular agitation. The 

 history of the Post Office proves this : penny postage and six- 

 penny telegrams were the outcome of great pressure. 



Irish trade particularly needs careful nursing. That, we 



