=1s.= now lowest fare, (_e.g._, 2s. 6d. return London to Brighton) fixed for Main Lines. =1s. 6d.= per ton fixed for goods train or slow service, as the present average for minerals, and allowing present lowest rate for goods in open trucks, rising to, say, 6d. per cwt. (10s. per ton) for small consignments, in covered trucks. =10s.= per ton, now lowest “per passenger train” (_e.g._, 6d. per cwt. for returned empties) fixed for fast service. (_b_) The increased traffic dealt with under “Finance.” (_c_) The two rates suggested for fast and slow trains solve the difficulty hitherto felt of charging lowest fare of 1d. as uniform fare--the 1s. fare and 10s. goods rate being double the present averages. CHAPTER IV. =OBJECTIONS TO THE SCHEME.= =1.--State Ownership.= Page 33. Writers for and against--All assume that on Nationalisation, system followed of charging according to distance, and to “what traffic will bear”--Fundamental differences between State Monopoly and Private Monopoly--Evils of applying profits of State monopolies in reductions of taxation--Strikes. Four rules to be observed on Nationalisation:-- 1. Natural monopolies only to be taken over. 2. When taken over, only to be worked for benefit of community and not for profit. 3. Competition of private enterprises not to be prohibited. 4. Monopoly to be worked by Department of State responsible to Parliament. =Chief grounds of objection to State ownership=-- (1) Difficulty of Government in dealing with conflicting interests of traders and general public. (2) Difficulty of Railway servants (being also voters) using political pressure to obtain better wages, against interests of traders and general public. Both of these objections removed if scheme (which avoids all preferential or differential rates or treatment) adopted with above four rules. Other grounds of objection, _e.g._, want of competition, officialism, &c., apply equally to present Company system, but may be remedied if owned by State. Suggested remedies:--Railway Council to deal with all matters of administration; Railway Courts to deal with questions of compensation, labour disputes, &c. Railways and Post Office being Department of State with Cabinet Minister at head subject to vote of censure in Parliament, provides better security for public than private Companies or Railway Trust. =2.--General Objections.= Page 43. =Fear of Losses=-- All existing staffs required for increased traffic--therefore no loss to them. Traders, like newspapers more than make up for any losses by economy in rates and fares and increased circulation. Mr. Acworth’s objections to “average” rates considered.