10 JULY 1920, Page 2

On Thursday week, on the vote of £848,642 for salaries

and expenses of the Ministry of Transport, the work of the Ministry was again discussed. Mr. Asquith said that, in his judgment, "there was no justification for the formation of this gigantic organization." Its work could have been perfectly well left to the Railway Department of the Board of Trade. Sir James Remnant, moving the reduction of the vote by £100,000, said they had so far heard nothing from the Minister and his colleague which would lead the House to any other conclusion than that the Ministry was not wanted. The £848,642 was, however, duly voted, and Sir-Eric Geddes closed the debate with an ominous phrase, "The Ministry of Transport is in its infancy."