§ MR. LEVESON GOWER (Stoke-upon-Trent)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the contention that the fares charged between London and Dover by the so-called Club Trains are not illegal is based on the claim that these trains are special trains for which no maxima are fixed by Act of Parliament, or on the ground that the fares charged are not in excess of the statutory maxima; and, if the latter be the case, whether he will state on which of the special Acts of the respective companies such maxima charges can be founded?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI understand the contention of the companies to be that the fares charged between London and Dover by them are within the statutory maxima, and that the Chatham Company also contend that in their Acts the limitation of fare is confined to ordinary and express, and does not extend to special trains. If a passenger, having a ticket from London to Dover, chooses to travel by the so-called "Club Train," he is charged by the International Sleeping Car Company a further sum for the extra accommodation provided by them, in the supply of special rolling stock and attendance, which is beyond the ordinary accommodation provided in the 1339 first-class carriages of the companies. It is, however, a legal question, and it is not for me to express an authoritative opinion upon the matter.