§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that Railroad Companies are in the habit of making extra charges for the conveyance of passengers during Ascot, Goodwood, and Epsom Races; whether, in some cases, these charges do not exceed the maximum allowed by statute; and, whether they have any right to raise, on such occasions, their ordinary fares?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN,in reply, said, his attention had not been officially directed to the statements contained in the Question; but he had no reason to doubt their substantial accuracy. His hon. Friend asked him to give what would be a legal opinion on the subject. He was not qualified to offer such an opinion to the House. But according to some correspondence in The Times of July 8,1878, it appeared that a Mr. James Bussey commenced proceedings against one of the Railway Companies to try its right to make an extra charge during the Ascot week. The Company paid the sum claimed into Court, and so avoided a legal decision. He supposed the impression left on the mind of his hon. Friend would be that they had good reason to do so.