"A certain amount of competition is healthy." "I don't know if it would be an advantage to the estate, and imagine you would not get a tenant to pay what Bell offers," Hayes replied.

"Besides, rival traders sometimes agree to keep up prices, and competition does not always make things cheap." "That's one of the ridiculous arguments people who want the Government to manage everything sometimes use," said Osborn with a scornful gesture.
Hayes smiled, "It is very well known that I am not an advocate of State ownership.

All the same, unnecessary competition would be wasteful in the dale.

For example, if you have two tenants at the station, the farmers who deal with the new man must use their carts, each coming separately for the small load a horse can take up Redmire bank, while Bell's trailer, after bringing down the slate, would go back empty.

Then I hear some talk about a fresh appeal to the council to make the loop road round the hill." For a moment or two Osborn did not answer.