CANADA’S RAILWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 7

CANADA’S RAILWAYS

ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED Problems of duplicating service, of general policies, of economies in opera* tion, in the railroads of Canada are to be studied by a Royal Commission appointed by the Federal Governments The first suggestion of such a course came from Sir Henry Thornton, president of the Canadian National Railways, when he was giving evidence before a special parliamentary committee, and after consideration the Government has accepted his recommendation. Canada’s two great railroads, theCanadian National, owned by_ the ynation, and the Canadian Pacific, privately owned, of which Mr E. ,W< Betty is president, have experienced a sharp reduction in revenue during the prevailing depression. The falling off has been met in part by drastic economies, but the situation has called attention to the questions of future policy on which the Government has decided to seek expert advice. One of the most important matters before the commission is the shorthaul competition given the railroads by motor trucks and buses which has cnft seriously into the : r receipts. It will not he surprising if the commission recommends more rigid regulations of these services and increased license fees.There will he inquiry into overlapping services given by the railways in various forms, into the necessity or other; wise of duplicating branch lines, and into the possibilities of more intimate co-operation and more intensive economy in many directions. Tt is the hope of the Government thafj the Commission will complete its inquiry and report before Parliament meets early next year.