§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Government contemplate taking powers to cause the Railway Companies to supply statistical data of their operations, so as to make known to the public the actual cost of carriage of the various classes of merchandise, of minerals, and several classes of passengers—as is done on the Indian lines and on the Railways of New South Wales; and also show the actual or average rates for the various classes of merchandise, of minerals, and faros for passengers — distinguishing those for local from through or competitive traffic; whether it is in contemplation to alter and amend the Schedule to "The Regulation of Railways Act, 1868," so that the accounts of the Railway Companies may be presented to proprietors in a lucid and intelligible form, for the purposes of direct and comparative analysis; more especially that Form No. 4 (Capital Account) may contain fuller details and show more explicitly the expenditure under the several heads—Railway, Canal, Steamboat, &c.; that Form No. 9 (Revenue and Expenditure) may show specifically and in detail the whole earnings, from the several sources, including the earnings from lines owned, leased, and worked, and also the whole expenditure specifically and in detail, under the several heads, including the expenditure on lines, owned, leased, and worked; that Form No. 10 (Net Revenue Account) may specify all first charges, 1645 including the per-centage or amount of earnings of worked lines paid the owning Companies; and, whether the Railway Companies will be asked to furnish monthly to the Board of Trade a classified Return of the tonnage of merchandise and of minerals carried, for public information as to the internal commerce of the Country, and as a counterpart to the monthly Trade and Navigation Returns now published?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINMy hon. and gallant Friend has put a series of Questions connected with the statistics of Railway Companies, which, if I should answer in detail, I should have to trespass too long on the time of the House. I hope, therefore, my hon. Friend will be satisfied with a general reply. As regards the first group of Questions, I have to say that the Government have already consented to the appointment of a Committee, on the Motion of my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. B. Samuelson), to inquire into these matters, and that I cannot say that the Government are prepared to take any steps with regard to them till that Committee has reported. As regards the second group, I have to say that I believe that these reports give, as far as I am aware, all the information which is required for the public interest. If further information is required by the shareholders, they have the remedy in their own hands. As regards the last Question, I have to say that the Board of Trade have no power to ask for such a Return; and as far as I am advised at present, I do not see that any sufficient public advantage would result to justify the very large expense to which the Companies would be put.