§
Order read for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question [27th May],—
That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Railway Clearing House Bill [Lords] that they insert provisions requiring the promoters to publish for the use of traders, on such terms and conditions as the Board of Trade may direct, any sectional or other railway maps constructed for the Railway Clearing House, indicating the different lines of railway and the distances along the same."—(Mr. Tomlinson.)
§ *MR. W. E. M. TOMLINSON (Preston)said he was happy to say that he was now in a position to ask leave to withdraw his Motion. He had been met in a fair and generous spirit by the railway companies in reference to the matter which was the subject of his Instruction. The railway companies had agreed to allow the sale to traders of the maps to which he had referred, and if there was any other information which the Railway Clearing House could give, and which traders thought would be of use to them, he had no doubt that they would give favourable consideration to any proposals in reference to them which might be made through the Mansion House Association on Railway and Canal Traffic or otherwise. He ought to say that be was very much indebted to the hon. Member for Stretford for his exertions in furtherance of the objects they both had in view. He asked leave to withdraw his Motion. ["Hear!"]
MR. MELLOR (Yorkshire, W.R., Sowerby)said that the statement of the hon. and learned Gentleman was most satisfactory. He had no doubt that as soon as the railway companies had it explained to them that the traders were asking for no more than they were entitled to they would speedily come to some understanding with the hon. and 630 learned Gentleman that would be satisfactory to all concerned. He thought that the action of the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade had conduced largely to the settlement of the question.
§ MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)wished to know from the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade what had been done by his Department in the matter?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydonthought that the decision at which the railway companies had arrived was of a very satisfactory nature, and that the action of the hon. and learned Gentleman had been fully justified. He had received the following letter from the Secretary of the Railway Clearing House in reference to the subject of the hon. and learned Gentleman's Motion:—
§ "Railway Clearing House, "Seymour-street, Euston Square, London, "14th June, 1897.
§ "Sir,—With reference to your letter of the 10th February last, stating that it appears to the Board of Trade very desirable that sectional maps of railways formerly issued by Mr. Airey should be reprinted and put on sale, I am instructed now to inform you that the Clearing House Committee have decided that in addition to the general railway maps of England, Scotland, and Ireland now on sale, sectional railway maps and diagrams, indicating the different lines of railway and showing distances between stations, shall also be placed on sale to the public.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
§ "T. STUART, Secretary.
§ "The Assistant Secretary, Railway Department, Board of Trade."
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.