§ EARL GRANVILLEThe Dover and Deal Railway Bill has been reported. I do not wish to make any attack upon the management of the two great Kent Lines, but it is a fact that their opposition, direct or indirect, has retarded the completion of the Coast Line, which is not only of local, but Imperial importance. The present is not the first time when one or other of these Companies has obtained powers from Parliament to construct this chain, and have failed to fulfil the obligation. The Bill has now been reported, but with a merely nominal penalty in case of non-construction of the Line. I want to ask the Chairman of Committees whether he has paid attention to this Bill, and whether he 1845 received any assurance which, encouraged him to pass it in its present shape?
§ THE EARL OF REDESDALEsaid, that it was true that independent schemes had been set aside by the action of the two Kent Companies in obtaining a Bill; that he had been inclined to recommend to the House to insert some provision which would make it more difficult to abandon the construction of this Line; but he found that it might lead to the non-passing of the Bill and to consequent public inconvenience. He had, moreover, received an assurance from the Chairman of the South-Eastern Company that it was intended to carry out the work.