The Canadian Railways If the Canadian Government gives effect to
the report of its Railway Commission, the Dominion should not merely save money on the National Railway, but free itself from an insidious form of political corruption. The Commission found that, while both the Canadian Pacific and the 'Canadian National systems had suffered from bad trade, excessive competition, over-hasty develop- ment and inelastic wages and conditions of labour, the State-owned railway had fared worse than its rival, owing to political and community pressure on the management. Heavy losses have been incurred because the railway had to provide unremunerative services to please influential politicians or their friends. The Canadian taxpayer has had to meet the bill for these illicit favours, of which the party in power has naturally been tempted to take advantage. The Commission recommends that the Canadian National should be taken out of politics and put under the control of a Board of three trustees, who are to be free from political interference. If Mr. Bennett is rightly credited with the intention to legislate in this sense, he will do well for ,his country... Australian experience has shown conclusively that the management of State-owned railways by. non-political commissioners is practicable, provided the right men are chosen.
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