Sir Eric Geddes explained, in reply to a question, that
the Bill did not include shipping. The Government-must protect the interests of the transport worker, and could not pile further burdens on the shareholders. The Railway Executive Com- mittee must go ; they were only an emergency Committee, did not run the railways, and did not control capital expenditure. Rates could not be raised further without laying an intolerable burden on all industries and trades, including food supply. Haulage reform would save a verylarge sum ; so would standard- ization of plant and stores. The Government would take over almost all privately owned railway-wagons. It would be neces- sary to control the docks Murder to centralize the administration of transport. Electrification of railways, including main lines, would be a large economy ; railways and industrial plant could use the same source of power. There was a time-limit to the operation of this Bill—two years only. At the end of that period these temporary powers would lapse. "During the two years we must endeavour to lift the dead hand off development." Then the Ministry would have to come back to the House for fun& powers. The situation "was serious, very serious " ; but not desperate, if it was tackled properly.
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