§ MR. ALEXANDER CROSS (Glasgow, Camlachie)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Scotch Railway Companies are not in the habit of exhibiting tables showing mileages at their stations, so that, in consequence, traders are unable to know what rates they are charged; and that, when applied to, these Railway Companies in many instances state they are not aware of the mileage, and can only quote their rate of carriage; and whether he will order inquiry into the matter and endeavour to arrange for mileage tables, clearly stated, being put up at all stations?
§ MR. MUNDELLASection 14 of the "Regulation of Railways Act, 1873," provides, under a penalty, that every Railway Company shall keep at each of their stations a book or books, showing not only every rate charged, but also the distance from that station to every place to which the company book. The book in question is required to be, during all reasonable hours, open to the inspection of any person without the payment of any fee.
§ MR. A. CROSSUpon whom devolves the duty of laying information and bringing actions to recover penalties when the regulations are not complied with?
§ MR. MUNDELLAAnyone can prosecute to recover a penalty.
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)Have the Board of Trade any information as to whether, in the new rate books, the distances are uniformly or generally set forth by the companies?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI must ask for notice of that. It deals with another question altogether.