Sir HENRY DALZIELI desire to ask the President of the Board of Trade a question with reference to the proposed Scottish inquiry into the recent, railway accident: Whether he can see his way to order that the proceedings may be public?
§ Mr. BURNSThe inquiry will be held in public unless, in the opinion of the inspecting officer, there is some strong reason to the contrary. I have seen Major Pringle, who will hold the inquiry, and he proposes to hold the inquiry in public 172 unless there appears to be some strong reason to the contrary.
§ Mr. THOMASCan the right hon. Gentleman say what possible reason there could be to prevent a public inquiry?
§ Mr. BURNSIt sometimes happens that men who may have to face a charge of manslaughter are reticent in giving evidence that they would be inclined to-give freely on material and physical facts that arise from a railway accident it a preliminary inquiry is made. The hon. Member has had experience in railway matters himself, and he will probably see the force of that.