§ 57. Mr. KILEYasked the Minister of Transport if his Department on the 27th July issued instructions authorising the railway managers to renew season tickets expiring before the 6th August for periods of six, nine, and twelve months, at the same time instructing them not to grant to new applicants tickets for a longer period than three months; and, if this is so, will he state his reasons for 13 giving preferential treatment to one class of applicants over the other?
§ Sir E. GEDDESIn view of the alteration in charges that came into operation on 6th August, the railway companies issued instructions that season tickets expiring before that date were not to be renewed for a longer period than that covered by the expiring ticket, and that no new ticket was to be issued prior to 6th August for a longer period than three months. In the circumstances, I consider this was a reasonable arrangement.
§ Mr. KILEYIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this was put into effect by instruction of his Department, and not by that of the railway managers; and is he not further aware that this means subsidising one set of passengers at the cost of another?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe instruction was put into force on the recommendation of the general managers. They asked me if I concurred, and, as my answer shows, I did concur, and the course we have adopted is a very common course in all cases of effort to prevent forestalling when any new impost like this comes in. It is a very common practice that the regular customer gets the regular ration, so to speak, and the now customer has to take a moderate amount.