HC Deb 12 July 1928 vol 219 cc2605-7
Mr. ROY WILSON

I beg to move, in page 4, line 34, to leave out the word "regular."

This Amendment is to secure that wherever a service is provided, a record of the rates and charges shall be available to the public.

Mr. LAMB

I beg to second the Amendment.

Mr. FIELDEN

I am sorry the promoters cannot accept this Amendment. These conditions would make it extremely difficult and would put the railway companies, which are using the roads for the purpose of transport, in a different position from those who are at present using the roads for the same purpose. We consider that it would be unfair competition, and therefore the promoters cannot accept the Amendment.

Question put, "That the word 'regular' stand part of the Bill."

The House proceeded to a Division:

Mr. Fielden and Major Glyn were nominated Tellers for the Ayes, but there being no Members willing to act as Tellers for the Noes, Mr. SPEAKER declared that the Ayes had it.

Major McLEAN

I beg to move, in page 5, line 30, after the word "Company," to insert the words or any representative body of traders or any interested party. The Clause enables any local authority interested in passenger fares, who consider any such fares to be unreasonable, and any representative body of traders who consider the rates or charges to be unreasonable, to appeal to the Railway Bates Tribunal to reduce the fares or rates, and, if the Tribunal thinks that the complaint is reasonable, they may revise the fares or rates and fix a day when they shall come into force. If after the fares or rates have been revised circumstances arise which in the opinion of the company render them unreasonable, the company may apply to the Tribunal. The object of the Amendment is to give the local authorities or a representative body of traders exactly the same right of appealing to the Tribunal as the company has. If circumstances make the altered fares unreasonable it is just and right that the representative body of traders or the local authority should have the same opportunity of appealing to the Railway Rates Tribunal.

Mr. LAMB

I beg to second the Amendment. It is a very small point, but very important. Where the companies themselves have a right of appeal it is only just and right that the other interested parties should have equal opportunities.

Sir H. CAUTLEY

The view of the Committee was that this is quite unnecessary. Under Sub-section (3) they have the right of appeal already. In Sub-section (3) there is no right of appeal given to the railway companies, but if after the rates have been once altered the railway companies feel they ought to be modified again, then the public and the representative bodies have those rights under Sub-section (3).

Amendment negatived.