The Times prints a memorandum from Captain Tyler, inspect- ing
officer to the Board of Trade, and recently employed to investigate the condition of Irish Railways. He is entirely in favour of tha State absorption of all Railways throughout the United Kingdom, a change "which would be of incalculable benefit to the country." Only 100 companies now remain, and only 28 possess four-fifths of the entire traffic, and the tendency is towards etill greater amalgamations, "which will assimilate the evils without the merits of Government departments," and seek to obtain a maximum of profit out of a minimum of
service. Effective State control is impossible, and the only alternatives are separate management by the State in the interest of the community, and separate management by the Companies in the interest of their shareholders,"—or rather, their officials. Captain Tyler is decidedly opposed to taking over the Irish Railways, except as parts of a complete scheme, but of course his memorandum does not bind the Cabinet.
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