§ COLONEL SIR H. VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if the South 786 Eastern Railway Company still stands alone in its refusal to convey Volunteer soldiers proceeding to drill or musketry practice in the service of the country on Saturdays; and in such case if he will consider the position of this company at Aldershot, Dover, Gravesend, Shorncliffe, and Woolwich, and the desirability of national funds being used for the encouragement of those lines serving the country to the best of their power?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.An undertaking has been arrived at with all the companies which, it is hoped, will be satisfactory.
§ COLONEL SIR H. VINCENTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if, in the event of invasion or imminent national danger, the Government has statutory power to take possession of railway lines for national purposes; and, in the contrary case, if the Secretary of State will consider the advisability of asking Parliament for such power, having regard to the warning recently conveyed to the War Office concerning the transport of Volunteers?
§ MR. POWELL WILLIAMSI must refer my honourable and gallant Friend to section 16 of the Regulations of the Forces Act, 1871, which gives full powers.