§ MR. GOURLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade, If he has caused special inquiries to be made with regard to the fall of the Ivy Bridge on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, on the 24th November, when seven men were killed; also of the Turiff Turnpike Road Bridge, on the Great Northern of Scotland Railway, on Monday the 27th November, when five passengers were killed and several injured; and, if the Board of Trade conduct any periodical surveying supervision over the condition of Railway bridges, carriages, and other rolling stock, similar to that exercised over passenger carrying shipping?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN, in reply, said, the Board of Trade intended to investigate the fall of the bridge on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, Major Marindin, at the present moment, was engaged in a similar inquiry in regard to the Turiff turnpike road bridge. With regard to the latter portion of the Question, Parliament had not imposed upon the Board of Trade the duty of conducting any periodical surveying supervision over the condition of railway bridges, carriages, and other rolling stock. If it had, it would require an army of officials, and would undoubtedly tend to lessen the responsibility of Railway Companies, and therefore, in his opinion, increase the danger. At the same time, however, although the Board of Trade had no general power of supervision, he was always ready to order an inquiry, and report if circumstances were brought to his knowledge which led him to believe that any particular structure, bridge, or part of the permanent way was likely to be a source of danger to passengers.