§ MR. A. GUEST (for Mr. BASS)asked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been called to the case of Daniel Delay, an engine driver on the South Eastern Railway, who, on the 22nd of last month, died on the foot plate of his engine, after being at work from 3.30 a.m. till 10 p.m. 18½ hours, with intervals for breakfast, dinner, and tea; and, whether he considers such protracted hours of labour for drivers of locomotives on Railways compatible with the public safety?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEI am not, Sir, able to give any information, or to express any opinion as to the case referred to in the Question of my hon. Friend. It has not been reported to the Board of Trade. The railway company would not be bound to report it, nor would they be bound to do so even under the stringent provisions of the Railway Regulation Amendment Bill now under the consideration of Parliament, as the case was not a railway accident.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONasked, Whether it is intended by the Board of Trade to make any further inquiry in reference to the case, with a view to protect railway servants generally from the recurrence of similar casualties?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEI will take care to inform myself as to the result of the coroner's inquest in reference to the man's death; but I can scarcely speak as to subsequent proceedings by the Board of Trade. The death was not one resulting from accident; but 1321 so far as I am informed was the death of a man from natural causes in the discharge of his duty.