§ 42. Mr. WATTasked whether the Caledonian Steam Packet Company, when granted by Parliament powers to run steamers on the river Clyde, agreed to give the various places on the Clyde a fair and reasonable service of steamers; whether his Department can say that that is now being done by the company; whether any complaints of unreasonable service have reached his Department during the last three months from Kilcreggan and Cove residents; whether he has power to insist on the company fulfilling the conditions on which Parliament granted it powers; and, if so, whether he will exercise these powers if it is shown to him that reasonable service is not being given?
Mr. BUXTONThe Caledonian Steam Packet Company is a limited company, and I am not aware that it possesses any statutory powers of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend. No complaints of the service have reached the Board of Trade from the residents of Kilcreggan and Ceve.
§ Mr. WATTDo I gather that fair and reasonable service has not been insisted upon by the right hon. Gentleman's Department?
Mr. BUXTONI am not aware that we possess the statutory powers indicated in the question in reference to this matter.