SECOND READING. (Hansard, 27 January 1891)

§ (7.14.) DR. CLARK (Caithness)
In moving the Second Reading of this Bill, let me explain that its object is to give power to the Board of Trade to control unreasonable conditions made by Railway Companies in respect of the issue of passenger tickets, more particularly the condition by which the return halves of tickets are declared not available unless used within a certain limited time. As there seems to be a feeling in favour of Select Committees, I may say that if the Bill is read a second time I have no objection to it being referred to such a Committee. Really, I think we need to do something to cure the evils that arise from a railway monopoly, where there is not the freedom and cheapness that competition brings, by giving more power to the Board of Trade. It is, for instance, a constant experience that we take a return railway ticket, and from accident, from missing a connecting train, or change in our plans, we are unable to make use of the return half of our ticket under the conditions laid down by the company. But seeing that we have paid for the double journey it would be only fair that a passenger should use the return half upon payment of the difference between the return ticket fare and the two single journey fares. In this way Railway Companies would not so often obtain payment for work they do not carry out, while the passenger would lose the advantage of the reduced rate when not 1199 fulfilling the conditions on which it was charged. Where there is competition between Railway Companies or between railways and steamboats, there is not much difficulty in the terms the Railway Companies offer. Thus, between Glasgow and Edinburgh, a distance of about 50 miles, the third-class fare is 2s. 6d., or 4s. return, owing to the competition between the Caledonian and the North British Companies. But where there is no such competition then a company may exact all kinds of onerous conditions as to breaking journeys and time of return.

§ (7.16.) DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)
The more we examine the Bill the more we are convinced of the benefit it will be to the middle classes and those whose occupations require much travelling. I appeal to any hon. Member, has he not again and again, through mischance, found himself unable to use a ticket because he has been unable to use it within a certain time. I hope this Bill will receive the same consideration as has already been extended to several Bills, and may be submitted to the investigation of a Select Committee.

§ *(7.18.) THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)
This, no doubt, is a Bill which will appeal to the feelings of all hon. Members. There is probably not a Member in the House who has not at some time or other lost the benefit of the return half of his ticket. However that may be, and whatever may be the possibilities, and I think they are considerable, of a wise and useful extension of the return ticket system by the Railway Companies, I do not think the House ought to assent to the Second Reading of this Bill. It is based on this remarkable proposition: that whereas Railway Companies are not bound to issue return tickets at all, all return tickets issued in future shall be available as long as passengers choose. The companies have the obvious remedy in their own hands by refusing to issue return tickets. Let me point out that the effect of the Bill would probably be to interfere with that which is a very considerable advantage to no small portion of the inhabitants 1200 of the Metropolis—the cheap Saturday to Monday return tickets. These are issued at much lower rates than the companies' ordinarily charge, in order to encourage this particular traffic. I cannot accept the Motion for the Second Reading of the Bill.