The National Railway Wages Board is •still examining the railwaymen's
new demand for still higher wages. At its meeting last week Mr. Watson, the general manager of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, pointed out that, despite the increase in goods rates, the railways were still being worked at a loss, and that passenger fares and goods rates must be raised by 20 per
cent, on the present charges. If the railwaymen's fresh demand were granted, it would cost £35,000,000 a year, and the railway charges must be raised by another 20 per cent. That is to say, an old pre-war fare of 20s. would become 42s. Mr. Watson expressed the belief that, such high charges would deter people from using the railwaars. The motor-eyele, as anyone can see on a Bank Holiday or a Saturday afternoon, has become a very powerful competitor of the train, ; even at the present price of petrol, the eyele with side-car must be a ()hewer form of transit than the railway.
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