If from any cause, such as a flood or other physical disturbance a small industrial or agricultural district were cut off from all communication with the rest of the Country, it is not only that district but also the whole of the Country which suffers loss, namely, the loss of trade with that district. And if by reason of high rates the remote towns, villages, and districts, as well as those nearer to great centres, are prevented from obtaining an outlet for their produce, the whole Country suffers. The converse is equally true: as soon as free circulation of passengers and goods is provided, the prosperity of the whole Country as well as of each district is increased. This, then, is the principle upon which the scheme of uniform fares and rates is founded, as opposed to the existing system of charging according to distance and according to “what the traffic will bear.” There remains, however, to be considered the principle upon which the particular uniform fares and rates mentioned on the title page have been suggested for the proposed scheme. These have not been selected at haphazard, but in accordance with three rules which, I believe, are founded upon a sound principle, namely:-- =(1) That any flat rate to be successful must not exceed the minimum rate in force prior to the adoption of the scheme=; =(2) That there should result from the change a sufficient increase of traffic to produce at least the same net revenue as before=; =(3) That in a system of transport the fares and rates should vary, not according to distance travelled, but according to speed of service.=