HC Deb 09 August 1894 vol 28 cc459-60
MR. CHAINING (Northampton, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the resolutions, passed by the Leeds Central Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, protesting against the action of the Great Northern Railway Company in altering the hours of signalmen, in the boxes at Beeston Station and other places on their lines, from eight to 10 hours; and whether he has taken, or will take steps, under the Railway Hours Bill, 1893, to check the action of the Company in thus increasing the hours of labour? I wish, further, to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has not been specially called to the boxes at Barkstone, and to the two boxes at Stevenage; and whether it is not a fact that those boxes and many others on the main line which are now raised to 10 hours have been eight-hour boxes for periods ranging from 21 to seven years, and whether the work at all of them has not enormously increased?

MR. BRYCE

I am afraid I cannot answer that question as to particular boxes without notice. The number of these boxes is very large. My attention has been called to these resolutions, and the Great Northern Railway Company have been asked for a statement of the duties performed by the signalmen. The Board have no authority under the Railway Regulation Act, 1893, to prevent the Company increasing the hours of their men, but if it is represented to them that the hours when increased are unreasonable they will use the powers given them by the Act with a view to a reduction if it is found to be necessary.

MR. CHANNING

Does the right hon. Gentleman's answer apply to all the boxes on the line, or to this particular box only?

MR. BRYCE

To the particular box, in the first instance. The latter part of the answer is, of course, general. We shall act on any representations which may be made to us.

MR. CHANNING

Have not the Board of Trade power otherwise than by representation to take action in these matters?

MR. BRYCE

The view the Board of Trade have taken is that their duty is, first of all, to call upon the Company to submit revised schedules, and if the schedules submitted are not in accordance with the views of the Board of Trade the matter is referred to the Railway Commissioners.