§ SIR RICHARD PAGET (Somerset, Wells)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the general public interest involved in the settlement of Railway Rates, and with the object of avoiding the possibility of technical objections being raised to any "Appearances" before the Joint Committee to which the Railway Provisional Order Bills are to be referred, he will be good enough to consider the advisability of endeavouring to procure the passing of a Resolution in each House of Parliament, to the effect—
That all the Petitions against the Provisional Order Bills and Schedules, and Maximum Rates and Charges and Classifications of Merchandise Traffic comprised therein, be referred to the Committee on the Bills, and that such of the Petitioners as pray to be heard by themselves, their Counsel, Agents, and Witnesses, be heard on their Petitions, if they think fit, and that Counsel be heard in favour of the Bills against such Petitions;1230 and if he will, either by the same Resolution, or in some other manner, provide for the enlargement of the time during which Petitions may be presented in respect of the Provisional Order Bills, so as to enable ample opportunity for farmers, traders, and others to prepare and present Petitions in regard thereto?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)Yes, Sir; I think the suggestion made in the question of the hon. Baronet is a reasonable one, and I shall be prepared to give effect to it at the proper time. As at present informed, I am inclined to think that the best means of doing so, so far as this House is concerned, will be to pass a Resolution in terms similar to those which are in use when Bills are referred to what are known as Hybrid Committees. The procedure in the other House of Parliament is somewhat different, but the matter shall have my attention, and I shall be prepared to communicate with the officers of that House on the subject.