§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. J. S. Rubinstein, a gas consumer in the district of the Gas Light and Coke Company, who disputed his account on the ground of overcharge, arising from the fact that his meter did not register correctly; whether he has observed that the Gas Company, although admitting a certain overcharge, insist on taking the case before a London police magistrate instead of into a civil court, the company claiming the right to so proceed under an Act of 1868 that is out of print; and whether, in the interests of the consumers of London, he can do anything to oblige the company to take cases where there is a bona fide dispute before a civil instead of a criminal tribunal.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention had not been called to this matter until I received particulars of it from the hon. Member. I am informed by the Gas Light and Coke Company that they took proceedings in the police court under the provisions of their special Act as being the cheapest and most expeditious way of having the question settled. The Board of Trade have no power to act as suggested in the last paragraph of the hon. Member's question.
§ MR. LOUGHDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it more desirable that such matters as these should be dealt with in a civil instead of a criminal court?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI cannot answer that question. The company are acting under their statutory powers.