RAILWAY NATIONALISATION

Evening Star, Issue 19023, 19 August 1925, Page 5

RAILWAY NATIONALISATION

URGED IN BRITAIN WILL ABOLISH UNEMPLOYMENT. Press Association—By Telcsraph—•Copyright,

■ LONDON, August 17, The ‘Daily Herald ' reprints and editorially comments on a letter by Sir Samuel Instone to the ‘ Western Mail ’ advocating the nationalisation of the railways. Sir Samuel Histone says: “Following the coal subsidy it will not be long botore Labor and other industries take up a similar position and seek the support of tlie miners and other unions. It is therefore essential that an effort should bo made to settle tho whole industrial problem at one stroke. This is possible at one sweep, which will bring a trade boom and reduce the cost of living—namely, by the nationalisation of the railways. They should then carry coal, raw materials, and foodstuffs at nominal charges. This will enable us to recapture the coal markets, and will keep every ship now tied up employed. It will also make the shipbuilders and steelmakers work full time, and make farming profitable. The railways need asubsidy, but it will be better to subsidise one than a series of industries, especially as the nationalisation of the railways will abolish the unemployment doles and reduce the income tax. , I have always been opposed to nationalisation, but a desperate remedy is needed for an unprecedented situation. Cheap transport will do for industry what cheap coal did in the past generation.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. [Sir Samuel Instono is chairman of the firm of S. Instone and Co., Lid. Ho is also chairman of the Askern Coal and Iron Company and tho Bedmas Coal Navigation Company.]