HC Deb 22 February 1892 vol 1 cc898-9
MR. J. WILSON (Lanark, Govan)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what power, if any, the Board of Trade possesses to restrain Railway Companies from overcrowding their first and second class carriages with passengers who pay only third class fare?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

The only statutory provision which, as far as I am aware, deals with the matter referred to by the hon. Member is contained in a byelaw applicable to all Railway Companies which enacts that— Any passenger persisting in entering a carriage or compartment of a carriage containing the full number of persons which it is constructed to convey, when any such person objects to his so entering the carriage or compartment, is hereby subjected to a penalty not exceeding 40s. It would not, however, be the duty of the Board of Trade to prosecute in such a case.