§ MR. DODD (Essex, Maldon)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will place on the Paper the Amendments to the Railway and Canal Traffic Bill which the Government intend to propose or accept; and whether he would give a couple of days' notice to this House before taking the Committee stage of the Bill?
§ MR. BRYCEThe conferences which have taken place as regards the Railway and Canal Traffic Bill during the last few days between hon. Members representing the traders and representatives of the Railway Companies have been so far satisfactory that I am not without hope that Amendments may be drafted to which both parties will agree. If this result is attained it will probably be convenient that those Amendments should be put upon the Paper in my name, and I will endeavour that they shall appear upon it not later than the day preceding that upon which the House would be asked to take the Committee stage of the Bill.
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACH (Bristol, W.)How long will it be before we shall know whether these negotiations are successful or not?
§ MR. BRYCEI hope it will be settled one way or the other within a few days; but I do not wish to be over-sanguine. No efforts on my part will be wanting if my mediation between the parties can bring the matter to a successful conclusion.
§ SIR A. ROLLITIs it not a fact that during the delay the Companies are pressing for claims above the old rates of 1892, and that the North-Eastern is actually in one case suing?