TRANSPORT SITUATION DURING WINTER 1945/46 Memorandum by the Minister of War Transport.

coal represents half the railway freight tonnage and moves predominantly over certain main lines, and to give priority of movement to all this traffic would not only tend to prevent any- thing else moving but would unbalance railway operation to such an extent as to cause congestion rather than fluidity. 6. In the circumstances I suggest that each Department which is responsible for a substantial amount of traffic should at once review the position and indicate which of the traffics for which it is responsible could be deferred or reduced during the coming winter with the least harmful effects to the national economy.