42. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at Bournemouth two English women with first-class tickets were turned out of a first-class railway compartment and put into a third-class compartment, in order to permit of German officers under escort occupying the first-class carriage; and whether instructions will be given that in the future no English woman is to be turned out of her seat to make room for any German, and that if there is no empty first-class carriage available German officers will be carried in any compartment regardless of class?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As regards the first two parts, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on Monday last to the hon. and gallant Member for Christchurch. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ 43. Colonel BURNasked the President of the Board of Trade why an English commercial traveller was recently turned out 1537 of a first-class smoking compartment at a station on the Midland Railway to make room for a party of German officer prisoners, and whether he is aware that his luggage was thrown out on the platform by one of the station officials?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Wardle)If the hon. and gallant Member will let me know when and where the incident to which he refers took place, I will inquire into the circumstances.
§ Colonel BURNIs it necessary to treat these inhuman Huns in this way, by putting them into a first-class compartment, with the result that our own people have to travel by truck or any other way they can?
§ Mr. WARDLEThat is a question of policy which does not arise out of the answer.