What we really want

is a truly national transit system, one that shall meet the wants and requirements of the whole people. Our system does not provide for the wants of one-fourth of the community, hence its failure, financially and socially.

We want, and must have, a system that will develop the trade that lies hidden among the great bulk of the people.

We want, and badly want, cheap transit, but we want far more, an equalisation of transit charges, on a fair and just basis.

We want a system that will open up, not close, our great producing districts, a system that will enable the distant farmer or miner to bring or send his produce to or from market without having all his profits eaten up in transit charges.

We want a system that will enable the city artisan, clerk or labourer to make use of his special knowledge or strength in a town or district 100 or 300 miles away from the city he may now happend to find himself jammed up in.

We want a system that will enable the invalids of our poorer classes to visit our health resorts. It is a cruel injustice these people are subject to.

We want a system that shall attract population to our shores, and promote settlement of our land: a system that shall page 11 make the barren lands of this country able to contribute their fair share of taxation, and so relieve the pressure of the heavy burden that now rests on a few only.

In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say that the present ruinous loss on our railway investment is maintained solely in the interests of the chief railway officials and their friends, and I again say that it would be quite easy to add another million to our railway revenue without materially increasing the working expenses.