§ MR. WEIR (ROSS and Cromarty)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Metropolitan Railway Company imposes on the holders of season tickets conditions to the effect that the company are not to be held accountable for any stoppage, hindrance, or delay of the trains, whether arising from negligence, accident, or any other cause; and, will he state whether any bye-law of the company which has received the sanction of the Board of Trade entitles the company to enforce these terms as conditional on the issue of season tickets.
§ MR. RITCHIEI understand that such a condition as that stated in the hon. Member's question is attached to the issue of season tickets by the railway company referred to. The issue of such tickets at reduced rates is, however, a purely voluntary proceeding on the part of the railway companies, and the terms upon which they are issued are therefore a matter of arrangement between the companies and their customers. The railway bye-laws have no bearing upon the subject.