BRITISH TRANSPORT BILL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 84, 9 April 1919, Page 5

BRITISH TRANSPORT BILL

SEVERE CRITICISM

(Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn. & Reutei)

LONDON, March 28. Tn : the House of Commons, Mr, Shortt (Secretary of State for Home Affairs), replying to Mr Gretton’s amondhient to the Transport Bill that, nd ' undertaking be established by the Ministry until the estimate was' approved, said the -existing circumstances blade reliable estimates impossible. Sib Edward Carson, stated that the Bill 'established the most gigantic department ever known-. It would prove the most expensive experiment in Justricy* -Sir Eric Goddes {Transport Minister) had carte blanche to spend what ho liked for two years. This was gambling gone mad. No estimates were required, and there was no limit of expenditure by Sir Eric -Goddes. '"The debote was adjourned.

1 (Tho question of improved transport, especially in country districts, has been the subject of considerable' investigation by the Ministry for Reconstruction. .After a careful consideration of various methods of meeting the demand, the Department favours the development ol an extensive system of light railways, which, because they will bo directed primarily to the promotion of agriculture, it is proposed to call “Agrails." live' form of train'sport contemplated is neither a light -railway nor a ' tramline, in the ordinary meaning of these terms. The track would bo a kind of tramline, cheaply constructed and easily laid and lifted, of 2ft gauge. It would be laid on the road, or, where the road was : not * sufficiently wide, over ditches or waste land alongside the road. A single track would bo used, with loops at frequent intervals, and fencing and signals would bo reduced to a minimum. Though Ithe gauge would be narrow, the trucks might have a- considerable overlap, and, though it would be inadvisable, for the sake of the light track, to run such heavy loads, there is stated to be no reason why the track,e should njot have the same capacity -as standard-gauge waggons. Passenger cars of some type still to be settled—possibly of the open “k>;|st-ra.ek” pajltem—would be) run : but the primary purpose of the “agnails” would be the carriage of agricnljttirali (supplies qiml produce-, poal, road materials, etc., and it is doubtful whether the passenger service would be cither frequent or punctual. The speed would irtot he very high; the motortraffic limit of 20 miles an hour is suggested. The ‘traction will bo mainly by steam or electricity, according to tire local (conditions, -and where the rails wore carried into the sidings on private 1 farms—virtually, to the farmer’s door—petrol tractors or horses would draw the .waggons. Possibly, by the use of “.containers.” it Would bo feasible to rum loads direct from t|ie“agrailfa” along the ordinary railways with which they would bo joinr-d. while another/possibility is the invention of a device whereby a, waggoirft might serve both for road transport and for “agrail” journeys.)