§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, Camlachie)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a recent decision—
That the Act of 1854 compelling Railway Companies, whether it paid them or not, within reasonable limits, to afford facilities for the conveyance of all classes of traffic;'and whether, in view of the entire suspension for some time past of certain services in Scotland, which has entailed enormous losses on traders, he has taken steps to enforce on the Railway Companies their statutory obligations?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to a newspaper report of the decision of the Railway Commissioners to which the hon. Member refers. Parliament has not given the Board of Trade 892 any statutory authority to intervene in the manner suggested in the question, which is one to be decided—as the case referred to was—by the proper legal tribunal, at the instance of those interested in the matter.