§ MR. WEIRTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Graveley v. the South Eastern Railway Company, in which Judge Addison, at the Southwark County Court, on the 29th April, delivered judgment against the plaintiff, who brought 1072 his action on account of the inconvenience which he sustained through being unable to leave Penge railway station immediately after his arrival by train, in consequence of the door giving egress from the station being kept locked until after the train had left the platform, so that the plaintiff was unable to catch another train by which he had arranged to travel; and will he consider the advisability of taking such steps as may be necessary, by legislation or otherwise, to require railway companies to arrange for the immediate egress from railway stations of passengers arriving by train.
(Answer.) I have no information as to the case referred to other than that given in the newspaper cutting which the hon. Member has been good enough to send me. I observe that the county court judge is reported to have expressed the opinion that nothing could be more reasonable than what the railway company had done. The Board of Trade have no power in the matter, and I do not think any need exists for such action as the hon. Member suggests.—(Board of Trade.)