§ MR. DE COBAIN (Belfast, E.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he could say if there is at present in Ireland any system of inspection of railway carriages carried out by persons under the control of the Government; and, if not, if he could suggest what steps should be taken to remedy the condition of things which exposes that section of the public which uses the third class carriages on Irish railways to inconveniences and discomfort which would not be tolerated on any line in England or Scotland?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)As far as I am aware, there is no systematic inspection of railway carriages in Ireland by any officer appointed by a Government Department. No formal complaint has reached the Board of Trade 1482 of the condition of the third-class carriages in Ireland since 1884, when an inspection was ordered of the carriages on a line of railway in the South of Ireland. If any well-founded complaint is submitted to the Board of Trade I will consider the expediency of ordering an inspection of the rolling stock in respect of which it is made under the provisions of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1871.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason that these complaints have been discontinued by the public is that they find it is no use making them?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHIt is very, difficult indeed for me to answer that Question. If a well-founded. complaint is made, it will receive prompt consideration from me.