§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the overcrowding of the trains on the City and South London Electric Railway at certain times of the day, which is said to be illegal, and is dangerous to human life; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent overcrowding of trains?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Board of Trade have from time to time received complaints of overcrowding on this railway, and have communicated with the company. The company state that they are using every effort to meet the press of traffic which occurs for about an hour every morning and evening. To enable them to do this, additional sidings are being constructed, and an application is now before Parliament for power to construct a duplicate line from the Borough to the City.
§ MR. MORTONMay I ask why, if omnibus and tramway proprietors are prosecuted for overcrowding, even for carrying one person above the prescribed number, Railway Companies are not proceeded against in a similar way?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI am unable to answer that question.