§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been drawn to a Circular addressed by the Midland Railway Company to the enginemen and firemen in the employ of the Company, the effect of which Circular will be to put an end to a hitherto guaranteed wage of sis days per week to such employés; whether he is aware that the effect of this Circular may be on Friday next to throw 4,000 skilled men out of employment, the majority of whom have been in the Company's service for 20 years; and, whether, in view of the danger to public safety involved in replacing these enginemen and firemen by unskilled men, the Board can take any action in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The working of railways is entirely in the hands of the Companies, and the Board of Trade had no power of interference.