§ MR. MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been directed to a paragraph in the "Hour" newspaper, dated 19th instant, which is headed "The Board of Trade and Railway Accidents," in which paragraph it is stated that a porter named George Shoebridge had been dismissed the service of the Company without a character, immediately after the termination of the inquiry by Colonel Hutchinson; if it be true, as alleged, that Shoebridge was dismissed because he asked the Secretary of the Society he is connected with to be present at inquiry; whether he, the President of the Board of Trade, will take any steps to see that men are protected from arbitrary treatment on behalf of Railway Companies in such circumstances; and, if it be true that a Correspondence has taken place as stated with him on the subject, if he will lay the same upon the Table of the House?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYSir, I have no means of knowing why any servants of railway companies may be dismissed, and I am therefore unable to take any steps to protect them or to interfere between them and their employers. If the hon. Member thinks it 337 worth while to move for the Correspondence which has passed with regard to the presence of the Secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants at the inquiry which the Board of Trade directed to be held on the accident in question he shall have it.