Communications in Africa, 1880–1939, Volume 2 by David Sunderland

Communications in Africa, 1880–1939, Volume 2 by David Sunderland

Author:David Sunderland [Sunderland, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, General
ISBN: 9781351222082
Google: Jck3DwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2017-09-29T17:35:49+00:00


Memorandum for the Private Enterprise Committee by the Hon. Gideon Murray, Master of Elibank [n.d.]; held at the National Archives CO 766/1.

MEMORANDUM

– for –

THE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE

by

THE HONOURABLE GIDEON MURRAY, MASTER OF ELIBANK.1

During the past three years I have been studying the question of railway development in East and Control Africa and in 1920 was in this connection in close consultation with my Parliamentary colleague and friend, the late Mr. Henry Wilson Fox,2 M.P., who at that time submitted comprehensive development proposals to the Imperial Development Committee (now defunct). I have officially resided in and have a knowledge in a business capacity of many parts of the British Empire, including South Africa, also of America. I venture, therefore, to lay before the Committee the following virus and suggestions with regard to the questions raised in their Terms of Reference.

I understand that the Committee is interested particularly in the transportation problems in Africa and that to interpret the terms of reference the two main issues which the Committee are primarily considering are (a) whether the Railways, existing and future, should be under private or departmental control and (b) whether any future Railways should be constructed privately or departmentally.

The first issue is already very such complicated by the fact that the Railways in East, Control and West Africa are already under departmental control, and that around these Railways there has been built up a system founded upon the Colonial Office Regulations which will be difficult to break through. To begin with, therefore, even if the Committee were to report in favour of the / transfer of these Railways to private control the Colonial Office would, I expect, find themselves met by many cogent arguments in opposition on the part of the Governments concerned. I wish to emphasise this point, because it may have to be taken into consideration by the Committee. On the other hand, I hope that the Committee will not allow a point of this nature to influence their judgment in their final recommendations should they come to the conclusion on reasoned facts that the preponderance of argument is in favour of private, or partially private, control. The transition period of any transference of control in a large undertaking must necessarily be difficult and sometimes complicated, but should not be allowed to stand in the way of a practical solution.

In my view, Railways are always better and more efficiently administered when under private control. The Railway Staff and Officials under private control regard themselves as servants of the public. Under Government control they are apt to regard the public as their servants. This is principally due to the fact that under departmental control there is always considerable difficulty and usually a long delay in discharging an inefficient Official. Secondly, the Railway Staff and Officials have not the same inducement to make the Railway pay, not being dependent to the same definite degree upon the revenue of the Railway as they are when under private control. With government Railways any deficit on working is invariably made good by the taxpayer.



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