RAILWAYS. (Hansard, 12 February 1841)

§ Mr. Labouchere
moved the second reading of the Railways Bill.

§ Mr. Hawes
wished, that time should be be given to afford opportunity to consider the bill.

§ Mr. Labouchere
said, if the second reading were allowed, he would consent not to go into committee on the bill for a fortnight, and would give notice of the precise day.

§ Colonel Sibthorp
hoped the bill would not be committed till that day three weeks.

§ Mr. Labouchere
thought, that he had given the parties affected by the bill ample opportunity for considering it; and he hoped, that the hon. Member would be satisfied with his (Mr. Labouchere's) general assurance, not prematurely to press on the bill.

§ Sir R. Peel
expressed a hope, that this bill would, as far as possible, be carried through in unison with the feelings of the railway companies. He did not mean, that the Government should comply with any unreasonable demands on the part of the companies, but it certainly would be more effective if passed with their approval. After all, the great security for the public was to be found in the attention of the companies. It was their interest to make travelling secure, for persons travelling for pleasure would not go by railways if they felt they could not do so in safety. As far as he could judge, the Birmingham and London, and Grand Junction Railways were admirably conducted. Whenever accidents happened, they did all in their power by making fresh arrangements to prevent their recurrence.

§ Mr. Labouchere
said, that every endeavour would be made to carry the bill with the support of the directors of the railway companies. The companies had always yielded to the representations of the Government whether they had infringed the Acts of Parliament relating to the railways, and had rendered it unnecessary for prosecutions to be resorted to against them.

§ Colonel Sibthorp
hoped, that some relief would be given to the postmasters, who were much oppressed in consequence of the railways, the companies paying much less duty per passenger than the postmasters. If, instead of the duty of one halfpenny on every four passengers per railway, a penny were exacted, it would give the postmasters some relief.