§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ THE EARL OF DUNMORE, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time said, its purpose was to amend the powers of the Board of Trade with respect to inquiries, arbitrations, &c, and other matter under special Acts, and to amend the Regulation of Railways Act, 1873, so as to enable the Board to refer differences of a particular description to the Railway Commissioners in lieu of arbitrators. For the first-named purposes power was given to the Board to hold any inquiry by means of any persons they might authorize. By this means any inquiry into a matter requiring special knowledge or qualifications could be conducted by experts in the particular subject-matter. The second clause enabled 217 the Board of Trade to certify all expenses incurred in such inquiry or arbitration, and decided that they should be paid by such of the parties as the Board might direct. The sixth clause enabled the Board to refer any difference to which a railway or canal company was party to the decision of the Railway Commissioners, who were to have the same powers in relation thereto as if the matter had been referred to them in pursuance of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1873.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.