FOOTNOTES
[17] This was on the initiation of Mr. Chiozza Money, M.P.
[18] In “The Case against Nationalisation,” page 186.
CHAPTER VIII.
CONCLUSION.
All reforms meet with opposition, mainly from persons whose interests may be prejudiced by the proposed change—also in many cases by experts. As to the latter, one remembers the story of the expert who, when the first proposal was made to cross the Atlantic by steam, wrote a pamphlet conclusively proving, to his own satisfaction, that it was a scientific impossibility to construct a steamer capable of carrying sufficient coal to do the journey! One of the first steamers to cross the Atlantic carried a consignment of such pamphlets!
As to the former, as has already been pointed out in considering objections to the scheme, there is but a very small section whose interests need be prejudiced. Even those few who might suffer loss by the reform will recognise that the increased facilities of transport, with accompanying decrease of expense, will inevitably result in a great increase in and expansion of trade, by reason of the opening up of markets which have hitherto been practically inaccessible.
Nor is there any reason why this opening up of new markets should be confined to the United Kingdom, for if other nations find that a system of small uniform fares and rates is not only practicable but remunerative here, they will surely follow our example, as in the case of Penny Postage, and the day will not be far distant, after the system has once been adopted in this country, when it will be possible to travel all over Europe at the cost of a few shillings, and to transmit and receive goods at correspondingly low rates.
It is impossible to foresee all the social and political as well as financial effects which may be produced by such a revolution. The advantages of travel, which have hitherto been restricted to the wealthy, will be thrown open to all, whatever their means.