§ MR. HOLLOWAY (Gloucestershire, Stroud)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the following facts, or any of them, have been represented to the Board of Trade—namely, that the Great Western Railway Company have, by the acquisition of a large proportion of the shares in the Thames and Severn Can al Navigation, obtained control of that undertaking; that the said Railway Company have, by nominees acting as a Sub-Committee of Directors, dismissed the principal officer and many of the workpeople and staff necessary for the maintenance of the said Canal, have taken 1093 possession of the seal, documents, and papers of the Canal Company, and removed the same to Paddington Station, have nominated one of their accountant clerks as clerk to the Canal Company, and have discontinued the constant supply of water to the Canal, and thus have stopped the navigation thereon, these proceedings being in derogation of "The Regulation of Railways Act, 1873;" and, whether the Board of Trade propose to make full inquiry in respect to the facts alleged, and to institute such proceedings as may be advisable for preserving the undertaking of the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation in the public interest, free from Railway control, that Navigation being an essential link in the water communication between the Rivers Thames and Severn?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)It appears to be true that the Great Western Eailway Company have, by the acquisition of a large proportion of the shares in the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation, obtained control of that undertaking; and it further appears that the Company have nominated a Sub-Committee for the management of the Canal; but the Board of Trade have no official information with regard to the other statements in the hon. Member's Question. The Board of Trade have for some time past had the matter under their consideration; but, as at present advised, they are not in a position to institute proceedings at law. The matter will, however, receive careful consideration, with a view to further legislation on the subject. There is no objection to the Correspondence on the subject being laid before Parliament if the hon. Member will move for it.