HC Deb 14 December 1911 vol 32 cc2521-2
Mr. PATRICK MEEHAN

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that at Maryborough station, Great Southern and Western Railway, there is an average weekly discharge of seventy five wagons with a tonnage of 675 tons, and that the goods store staff who have to handle this weight of goods consists of two men, assisted occasionally by three men of the passenger platform staff for about two hours; whether he is aware that the directors have refused to provide a lifting crane, although frequently requested to do so, and that packages ten hundredweights and over have to be shifted and loaded by hand causing danger to the men employed; and whether steps will be taken to have provided at this and other stations on the Great Southern and Western Railway a lifting crane, sufficient help, and proper facilities for the handling of goods?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)

I have invited the observations of the railway company upon this question, and will communicate with the hon. Member on receipt of their reply.

Mr. PATRICK MEEHAN

asked whether he is aware that the signalling staff and other grades of employés in the service of the Great Southern and Western Railway, Ireland, have been reduced, and that at some stations on this railway boys are now employed in lieu of men; will he state how many signal cabins have been removed, and whether the block signal system has been discontinued over a portion of this railway; whether he will explain how under present arrangements sufficient precautions are taken for the safety of the travelling public; and, seeing that there is a delay in forwarding goods, causing loss and inconvenience to the public, whether steps will be taken to have the transit of goods carried out in a proper manner and in reasonable time?

Mr. ROBERTSON

I am not aware of the circumstances mentioned, but, if the hon. Member will furnish me with specific information respecting alterations made in the signalling arrangements on this railway, or regarding delay in the transit of goods, I will consider whether I could usefully communicate with the railway company.

Mr. CRUMLEY

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state whether, seeing that the Board some years ago fixed a scale of charges for Irish railways, and that several railway companies in the North of Ireland have now given notice that they intend to increase those charges, he will say whether this is the result of the pooling system upon which the Irish railway companies have agreed?

Mr. ROBERTSON

Such recent increases in the rates on Irish traffic as have been notified to the Board of Trade were due, I understand, to increased charges either for cartage or for conveyance by sea. The rates for conveyance by rail would not appear to have been increased in these instances, and they could not in any case be raised beyond the statutory maxima for Irish railways fixed by Act of Parliament in 1892.

Mr. CRUMLEY

What is the cause of the rise on the Irish railways when they are only paying 12s. to 14s. a week to their servants?

Mr. ROBERTSON

The answer I gave was that in this case there appeared to be no increase of rates.