Distance Scale,

which Sir Joseph Ward proposes to adopt. So far as I am aware, the late Mr. Charles Waring was the first to propose this plan, in his work on the "State Purchase of Railways," a copy of which he was good enough to send to me. I could not see how he was to reduce the idea to practical working, and wrote to him for an explanation Unfortunately, he died before my letter reached home. What is proposed is this (again taking second-class passenger fares to illustrate):

This is going from the City to the Country Districts, but going to the City from the Country, or for travelling in the country, this is how it would work:

I fail to see that this gives any relief to the country districts. It certainly does not, as appears at first sight, give the country any advantage over the city. It is simply another differential rating in favour of the great cities—one more inducement to "visit the capital." I await with some interest the issue of the new fare-table. This Distance Scale is one of those things which appear so eminently just and easy on the face, but will not bear close looking into.