But some of the principal arguments against municipal trading do not seem to me to apply to the working of railways by the State. Of course, the objection of those who think that no public authority should become directly responsible for the management of any commercial undertaking is as valid against State working of railways as against municipal working of tramways, or municipal supply of electricity for light and power. In both cases there is a restriction of the field of private enterprise, and that is enough for the out-and-out Individualist. He is convinced, on general grounds, that all commercial undertakings should be left exclusively to private enterprise. But those who are not prepared to settle such matters on any general theory, and who prefer to weigh the advantages and disadvantages in each case, see that many of the reasons against municipal trading cannot fairly be urged against the national ownership of railways. Municipal trading is indefensible because it unfairly competes with private traders. Competition in commerce must be fair competition on equal terms, otherwise it fails to secure any of the economic advantages which do undoubtedly flow from the free competition of private traders. A commercial undertaking must be worked for a commercial profit. A municipality raises money on public credit, and thus gains an advantage over every private competitor. It also fixes scales of charges and rates of wages without reference, or, at all events, without exclusive reference, to considerations of profit, and thus makes it impossible for any competing trader to earn a legitimate commercial profit. And to make it possible to do this it uses the power of taxation, and levies rates on the competing traders themselves, so that the municipal business can be carried on without the commercial profit which the private trader must earn in order to live. No one can say that this is fair competition. Then municipal bodies are, from their composition, unsuitable for carrying on commercial business. Their organization cannot be adapted to commercial management. The individuals who serve on these bodies have neither the time nor, as a collective body, the capacity for managing the business on which they embark with efficiency and success. The difference in results due to the difference between good and bad management is paid for out of the rates. These considerations do not, however, apply with equal force to the State management of railways. The State would have a complete and universal monopoly. There would be no private competition left, except, of course, competition by sea or by tramway or any other mode of conveyance which can compete with railways.