MODERN TRANSPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 12

MODERN TRANSPORT

In recent protests against new proposals for transport control there have been frequent references to "modern transport," The term has been applied to the carriage of goods and passengers by road, as if that alone were up-to-date and progressive. . Undeniably , there has been great and swift progress on the roads; but the railways have also extended and improved their service. A special correspondent of "The Post" recently gave some details of the speed and convenience b.f the service of British railways. Another example of modern methods on the rail was given in a recent issue of I "The Times." A special train of 35 wagons and coaches, travelling over three railway; njfstems, made

the journey from Dereham, Norfolk, to Staines, Middlesex, with the complete personnel, furniture, live stock, and equipment of a farmer who was moving to new pastures. Removals of entire farm equipment in one operation have ("The Times" stated) become a feature of modern railway enterprise. Journeys of 200 and 290 miles have been made in this way. .For the latter journey the load included 150 sheep, 300 fowls, 32 head of cattle, two dogs, six tons of furniture, carts, hay-cutting machines, and other implements. The inclusive 'charge provided for the milking of the cows and the feeding of the stock on the journey. This surely is "modern transport"—progress when compared .with even recent times, Compare it with a removal in the time of Scott, whose centenary was celebrated this year. Writing to a friend in 1812, Scott described his flitting across the Tweed to Abbotsford.

The neighbours have been much delighted with the procession of'my furniture, in which old swordSj bows, targets, and lances made a ■ very conspicuous show. A.family of turkeys was accommodated within the helmet of some preux chevalier of ancient Border fame; the very cows, for aught I knew, were bearing banners and muskets. I assure your ladyship that this caravan, attended !by a dozen of ragged, rosy, peasant children carrying fishing-rods and spears and leading ponies, greyhounds, ana spaniels, would as it crossed the Tweed have furnished no bad subject for the pencil and really reminded me of one of the Gypsy groups of Callot upon their march.