§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company now exact a toll of one penny per head from people visiting their platforms in the Waterford terminus, either for the purpose of seeing off or meeting friends travelling by the trains, and from tradespeople's messengers who are sent to deliver parcels to passengers: whether he is aware that, as Waterford trades people have to pay a bridge toll of two pence to send messengers to the trains with parcels, this additional charge becomes a heavy tax on their business; and whether he proposes to take any action to stop it.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI have communicated with the railway company in this matter, and am informed that it is 1250 the case that they make a charge of one penny for persons other than passengers going on to the platforms at Waterford, but that arrangements have been made for tradespeople's messengers to deliver their parcels outside the barrier at which the penny is charged. The charge made by the Bridge Commissioners for crossing the river, which is referred to in the latter part of the Question, is a matter over which the company do not appear to have any control. The Board of Trade have no statutory powers in the matter.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)was understood to ask if supposing an automatic machine were used for collecting the charge the right hon. Gentleman would insist on the tickets being issued by a clerk in order if an accident happened that the company might be held responsible.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEWe have no control over that.
§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIENWe shall have control over the next Bill the Company promote.