§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONasked the President of the Board of Trade, The number of cases which have come before the Court of the Railway Commissioners since November 1878?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONI believe my noble Friend is right in saying that no cases have been before the Railway Commissioners since November last. There are various reasons, which I shall be glad to mention whenever a discussion takes place on this subject, which, to my mind, account for this state of things. Among others, it is hardly necessary to observe that the natural uncertainty on the part of the public as to the future arrangements of a Commission whose powers expire this year would in itself largely explain the matter. In making this remark I ought, however, to remind my noble Friend that we have already intimated that the Government attaches great importance to the continuance of the powers of the Railway Commission, which they believe to be highly valued by the commercial community of the country.