§ MR. DODDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what has now been the result of the action of the Board of Trade in regard to the hours of labour at certain signal boxes complained of upon the London to Ipswich line of the Great Eastern Railway Company; and whether the Board will be able before Parliament rises to present its Report upon the working of the recent Railway Servants (Hours of Labour) Act?
§ MR. BRYCEThe Railway Company have not further reduced the hours of the signalmen in question, and the Board of Trade have still under their consideration the expediency of taking proceedings against the Company before the Railway and Canal Commissioners. The Board are, however, investigating other complaints against this Company in regard to their signalmen, porters, ticket collectors, shunters, and platelayers on certain sections of the Hue, and, as at present advised, the Board are of opinion that all these cases should finally be dealt with at the same time. A year has only just elapsed since the Act came into force, but a Report is being prepared and will be presented as soon as possible.