§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can now state what course he proposes to adopt in reference to the Regulation of Railways Bills; and whether his attention has been drawn to a statement by a gentleman who introduced the deputation to him on Thursday last that, in his opinion, and, so far as he could gather, in the general opinion of the deputation, the Proposed inquiry should be by a tribunal in the nature of a Royal Commission and certainly not by a Select Committee of the House of Commons?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEIt is not proposed to take the Second Reading on Monday next. As the statement referred to was made to me it may be presumed that my attention was drawn to it, but the honourable Gentleman's version of the statement is not in accordance with my recollection.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASHas the right honourable Gentleman seen the letter in the Press from which the second paragraph of my Report is taken almost verbatim?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADENo, Sir, I have not.