§ The DUKE of WELLINGTONrose to call the attention of their Lordships to three Bills relating to railways, the consideration of which he wished should be referred to the Railway Commission. He was most anxious that every safe and practicable measure should be taken for the purpose of giving the Government and of giving Parliament the most complete knowledge, as well as all necessary control over those modes of communication now so rapidly extending over every part of the country. It appeared to him most important that the Government should possess the most entire and complete information of all the transactions which were going forward between the parties concerned in railways, in order that measures should be taken to render those modes of conveyance as useful as possible to the public at large, and as conducive to the public service as circumstances would permit. The object of one of the Bills then before their Lordships was to continue a railway direct from Dover to the metropolis through Canterbury. That continuation, as must be evident to every one, was a great object to the town of Dover, as well as to the whole county of Kent; and he certainly was anxious that the road from Canterbury to Dover should be continued; but he was not free from apprehension that, in consequence of some transactions which had recently taken place between the parties, that object might not 1095 be attained. His wish was that the most accurate knowledge possible should be obtained and communicated on the subject; and therefore he proposed that the Bills which then stood for a second reading should be referred to the Commissioners. The three Bills to which he alluded were the South-Eastern Railway (North Kent line), the South-Eastern Railway (Stroud to Maidstone), the South-Eastern Railway (Mid-Kent and Direct Tunbridge).
LORD BROUGHAMwas glad that his noble and gallant Friend had taken this matter into his own hands, because it was a most grievous thing to the public that parties should be allowed to come to an understanding on these matters amongst themselves. He knew that it was the noble Duke's constant recommendation to Parliament, when these railway schemes first began, that much more superintendence and care should be taken of them than was at the time unfortunately taken; and he was always of opinion that Government ought to exercise greater influence over these raiways than they did.
The EARL of RADNORobserved that it was owing to the opposition of the landowners of Kent that the railway was carried round instead of going direct through Canterbury.
§ EARL FITZWILLIAMreiterated the opinion which he had formerly expressed, that the whole question should be taken into the hands of Government.
§ LORD REDESDALEwished to ask the Government whether it was their intention to proceed with the Bill for giving powers to the Railway Commissioners during the present Session of Parliament. Such a measure was absolutely necessary; and if not passed during the present Session, it might not be so easy to pass it in the ensuing Session, when the railway interest might acquire greater strength in the Legislature.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEreplied that the attention of the Government was very seriously directed to the subject.
§ Bills to be referred to the Commissioners of Railways.