§ MR. BENTINCKsaid, he rose to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whe- 1064 ther he has lately received a deputation of Railway Engine Drivers, the object of which deputation was to call his attention to the consequences of that class of railway servants being overworked, and to ask for the interference of the Board of Trade in the matter; and if so, whether any and what answer had been given?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, there certainly was a deputation of Engine Drivers at the Board of Trade; but whether they represented any great number he was not informed. They stated that they were overworked, and they wished something done to enable them to effect some change of agreement with their employers. They were ready to work a shorter number of hours, and at a reduced rate of wages, but their present arrangements did not give them that option. His reply to them was, that the Board of Trade had no power to interfere in such a matter; and, so far as the Legislature was concerned, he gave his opinion, so far as it was worth anything, that he did not think Parliament would interfere for the purpose of regulating the hours of labour or rate of remuneration of adults; and that the Government could not usefully interfere in regulating wages or the hours of labour, or interfere in any way between Employers and Engine Drivers on railways. He must say that he had heard with great astonishment the statement they made as to the many hours they had to work; but he could not see how the Board of Trade could do anything in the case.