RAILWAY RATES IN BRITAIN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1622, 13 December 1912, Page 7

RAILWAY RATES IN BRITAIN.

INCREASES OPPOSED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, December 11. There h considerable opposition from members in the House of Commons representing: the trading community to the Railway Companies Bill,' which permits the companies to raiso rates. . The Government announced that it has given its pl°dge to pass the Bill during the present session, and it will stand or fall.by the result. THE CASE FOR THE COMPANIES. The case for the railway companies is that the Government havo not carried out the pledge which they gave at the time. of the railway strike settlement last year. The promise, in the language of the official report, was as follows:—"The Government will propose to Parliament next session ' legislation providing that an increase iv the cost of labour due to an improvement of conditions for the staff would be a valid justification for a reasonable general inoreaso of charges within the legal maxima 'if challenged under the Act of 1891." Tho companies say that they at once proceeded to increase tho wages of the lower grades, and when the scheme of conciliation came into operation they. likewise proceeded to interpret its regulations and obligations in the,most liberal way. . "Our justification for asking for a reasonable increase of rates," said a prominent official to a "Manchester Guardian" representative, "is that, apart from tho increases an the wages of the men, which is quite strong enough in itself, wo are faced with an increased cost. all round in commodities. Wo are practically the sole transporters, and wo havo to buy all sorts of things to produce that transportation. Coal, for instance, is Is. Gd. to 2s. per ton dearer than what it was. Provender for our horses costs us more than half-a-crown. a week for each horse. Straw is dearer. In stores generally everything is up, and we havo an immense amount and varioty of stores to keep in stock. If only for this increased cost, which represents a very considerable advance all round, wo are entitled to increase our charges. Can you point to any other business where if the cost of the production if goods goes up they don't increase their sale price ? _ The railway companies havo reached a limit, <ind they must cither reduce their dividend or otherwise' increase their earning power. Wo want tho Government to carry out their promise, and allow us to increase tho rates on goods. We havo already touched tho passenger side, but there is plenty' of margin still left."