§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it has been brought to his notice that the privilege which soldiers and sailors in uniform have long enjoyed of travelling at half fare between London and Gravesend has recently been withdrawn by the authorities of the South Eastern and Chatham and Dover Companies; whether he will use his good offices with the said authorities in order to obtain a restoration of this privilege, and whether he will use his influence with the authorities of the other railway companies throughout the United Kingdom to make a like concession.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)I am informed by the general manager of the South Eastern and Chatham and Dover Railways that the privilege referred to has not been withdrawn. It appears that by the mistake of a booking clerk the tickets in question were inadvertently refused on a recent occasion to some Marines at Chatham, but on the attention of the general manager being called to the matter the 752 error was corrected. I shall be happy to show the general manager's letter to the hon. and gallant Member, if he so desires.