§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ EARL DE LA WARRsaid, that although the Bill introduced by his noble Friend who represented the Board of Trade on behalf of Her Majesty's Government (Lord Henniker) dealt, and that very slightly, with 1274 one only of the recommendations of the Commission on Railway Accidents, he was, nevertheless, willing to support it as a provisional measure. At the same time, he was not without hope that further legislation might be rendered unnecessary by the action of the Railway Companies themselves. If Her Majesty's Government were unable at the present moment to deal with the whole question of railway accidents as submitted in the Report of the Royal Commission, they had selected one subject of material importance, and upon which the Bill would enable them to obtain valuable information. He did not believe there was any Railway Company who would now dispute the utility and the necessity for the public safety of continuous brakes. The only question was, which is the best and the most serviceable form of brake? and in these circumstances, there was naturally some hesitation in fitting and adapting a particular brake to a large quantity of rolling stock until it was ascertained which kind was the best and most approved. But this difficulty was gradually being overcome by the scientific and engineering intelligence which was brought to bear upon it. As regarded the adoption of one form of brake, it was, no doubt, desirable that there should be as much uniformity as possible; but it did not seem to be absolutely necessary that lines which were not in communication with one another should have the same brake, provided the one that was adopted fulfilled the requirements of the Board of Trade. But in the case of Companies having lines in connection with one another—as, for instance, the North-Western and the Caledonian—it seemed to be essential that the same form of brake should be used. With reference to this, when the Bill was in Committee, he should wish to propose a slight Amendment in the Schedule.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.