Orders of the Day — ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) BILL [Lords].

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 25 Gorffennaf 1922.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr Frederick Macquisten Mr Frederick Macquisten , Glasgow Springburn

I beg to second the Motion.

The hope of this country is in cheap electricity. We have seen the manner in which Germany utilised her electrical power resources both in war and peace. We, in some singular way, have failed to turn electricity to the same advantage. You can only get cheap electricity if you get the railway companies to use it, and I think they should be encouraged to use it and the supply of electricity to them should be facilitated. I hope the time will come when there will be an amalgamation of companies for the supply of electricity for this purpose. It is absurd to think that when a railway company reaches a certain limit it should be under the necessity of having to comply with these requirements and that we should have a reproduction of what they have in Australia., where there are different gauges involving loading and unloading from one train to another. We must give the railway companies freedom to buy electricity in the best place they can buy it and from the best power company. If we do that, and if the railway companies can get electricity cheaply from the power companies—and if they get it cheaply enough—then we can double, treble and quadruple the efficiency of the railways, cheapen the cost of running them, and bring all the great terminals into enormously increased efficiency. America is doing it as fast as possible, and she has found she can increase terminal efficiency by five times in this way, and the railway companies have increased their efficiency twice, and expect soon to quadruple it. I hope the Minister will not allow antiquated causes and small local jealousies to interfere in this matter. If we continue the artificial obstacles which at present exist, then we are striking a blow at the purpose at which this Bill has, namely, to get a cheap supply of electricity, and I trust the Minister will accept this most wise and far-seeing Clause.