§ MR. R. BIDDULPH MARTINasked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been directed to the valuable testimony given by the Chairman of the London and North Western Railway Company at the recent half-yearly meeting of that Company, to the efficiency of the Railway Commissioners in looking after the interests of the public; and, whether it is his intention to promote or support legislation with the view of conferring larger powers on the Commissioners especially in the direction of the promotion of the comfort and convenience of the public travelling by Railway?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI have referred to the report in The Times of a speech which was made at the recent half-yearly meeting of the London and North-Western Railway Company, by the Chairman of that Company, and I find there that Mr. Moon said— 1658
They had the Railway Commissioners, a standing monument of the repudiation of national engagements by the Parliament of this country. It was an irregular court without any principle, with powers over their rates which the highest authorities said was equivalent to confiscation, and they were a standing menace to this great property.I do not know whether that is the language to which my hon. Friend refers, and which he speaks of as valuable testimony to the efficiency of the Railway Commissioners in looking after the interests of the public. With respect to the second Question, I have to say that the powers of the Railway Commissioners expire on the 31st December, 1882, and at the end of that time it will be necessary to resort to fresh legislation on the subject. In the meantime, the matter has my very serious consideration.