§ 57. Lord ROBERT CECILasked whether officers and men on their way to the front have been hindered from reaching their train by racegoers struggling for places in racing specials; and, 1474 if so, what steps the Government propose to take with regard to this state of things?
§ 58. Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the complaint made on 1st May by Mr. M. O'Neill that on that date certain officers were delayed in getting to Waterloo en route for Southampton and the front entirely owing to their train being held up for the Hurst Park racing specials; and if he will obtain from the Joint Executive Committee on Railways, and give to the House, an explanation of how it is that racing specials are being run in time of War?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe Railway Executive Committee state that no well-founded complaint has reached them to the effect stated in the Noble Lord's question, and that the delay of the particular train referred to by my hon. Friend was in no way caused by the running of special trains for the races. I understand that the position of the Railway Executive Committee in this matter is that the companies have withdrawn all inducements to travel to race meetings by the issue of cheap tickets, but that, while race meetings are held and persons desiring to travel to them pay the ordinary fares, it is incumbent on the companies to carry them so long as the naval, military, and civil requirements of the Government and of the public are not thereby prejudiced. In their opinion more disorganisation and delay of traffic would frequently be caused by attempting to carry these persons in ordinary trains than by providing separate accommodation in special trains. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that every effort will continue to be made to prevent occurrences of the kind to which the questions relate. I may add that I am in communication with the companies as to the expediency of raising the fares on special trains for races.