§ MR. RITCHIEasked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether Clauses for providing for the free use by the public of the East and West India Ferry Roads, in the parish of Poplar, had not been inserted in the Metropolitan Bridges and Ferry Roads Bill, and subsequently struck out after such Bill was committed, but before it had been considered by the Committee; if such Clauses were struck out, the reason for so doing; if it is not the fact that the East and West India Ferry Roads are the only roads in the Metropolis on which toll is levied; and, whether the Metropolitan Board of Works propose to take further action to relieve the public from such tolls, and extinguish the ferry rights created by the Act 52 Geo. 3, and dissolve the Poplar and Greenwich Ferry Company?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGG, in reply, said, that the Metropolitan Bridges and Ferry Roads Bill did contain the clauses in question, and that they were struck out. This course was taken under advice, in consequence of the opposition of the Poplar and Greenwich Ferry Company, with the details of which he would not take up the time of the House. He was unable to inform his hon. Friend whether the East and West India Ferry Roads were the only roads in the Metropolis on which toll was levied, or whether the Metropolitan Board proposed to take further action in the matter; but he was sure that their best attention would be given to any representation which might be made to them on the subject.