Mr. CLEMENT EDWARDS (Denbigh District)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause official inquiry to be immediately made into the circumstances of the running of the 5 p.m. train from Hastings to Victoria on Sunday last on the South Eastern line, to ascertain whether the train jumped and swerved in an alarming manner at certain curves between Tunbridge Wells and Penge, and, if so, what was the cause of the same; whether there was undue delay in stopping the train after the communication cord had been pulled by certain passengers, and, if so, what was the cause of such delay; and whether the brake was in perfect working order.
§ Mr. KEARLEYThe Board of Trade are making inquiries of the railway company concerned, and will inform my hon. friend of the result.
Mr. CLEMENT EDWARDSI have received a number of letters from passengers confirming my allegation. Shall I send them to the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. KEARLEYWe are in communication with various parties concerned, and expect to get a reply from the railway company in the course of a few hours.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIG (Antrim, S.)Is it permissible for people who complain of a train going too slow to pull the communication cord?
§ EARL WINTERTONAnd do the Board of Trade say that a person who thinks the train is going too fast may pull the communication cord?
§ Mr. KEARLEYIt depends on the part of the line on which a train may be travelling.