HL Deb 18 July 1890 vol 347 cc196-200
THE EARL OF LEITRIM

, in rising to move— That there be laid before this House Returns of the receipts from goods and passenger traffic, &c.; also, of the working expenditure, net receipts, and rolling stock, of the Irish Light Railways. said: My Lords, the object of my making this Motion is to enable ratepayers to arrive at some idea of what has already been done in the way of opening out the country by Light Railways by showing what the traffic receipts and working expenses on the one hand and the net receipts on the other will be likely to be of the lines which are proposed to be opened in the congested districts.

Moved, "That there be laid before this House Returns, as under, of the receipts from goods and passenger traffic, &c.; also, of the working expenditure, net receipts, and rolling stock, of the Irish Light Railways."

RECEIPTS FROM GOODS AND PASSENGER TRAFFIC, &c, ON IRISH LIGHT RAILWAYS.
Year. Length of Line open. Passenger Traffic. Goods Traffic. No. of Miles travelled by Trains.
No. of Passengers conveyed. Holders of Season Tickets. Minerals. General Merchandise Passenger Trains. Goods and Mineral Trains Total.
1st Class. 2nd Class. 3rd Class. Total.
1887
1888
1889
Receipts (Gross) from Passenger Traffic Receipts (Gross) from Goods Traffic. Miscellaneous Rents, Tolls, &c. Total Receipts from all sources. Receipt per Mile of Line open. Year
Receipts from Passengers. Excess Luggage, Parcels, Carriages, Horses, &c. Mails. Total Passenger Traffic Receipts. Merchandise. Live Stock. Minerals Total.
1st Class. 2nd Class. 3rd Class. Season. Total.
1887
1888
1889
WORKING EXPENDITURE, NET RECEIPTS, AND ROLLING STOCK OF IRISH LIGHT RAILWAYS.
Year. Length of Line open Maintenance of Way, Works, &c. Locomotive Power (including Stationary Engines). Repairs and Renewals of Carriages and Waggons. Traffic Expenses (Coaching and Merchandise.) General Charges. Rates and Taxes. Compensation for Damage and Loss of Goods. Miscellaneous. Total
1887
1888
1889
Total Receipts. Net Receipts. Proportion per Cent. Rolling Stock. Working Expenditure per Mile of Line open. Year
Locomotives. Carriages, Waggons, Trucks, &c.
Carriages. Other Passenger Train Vehicles. Waggons (all Kinds). Any other Vehicles. Total Number of Vehicles.
1887
1888
1889

—(The Lord Clements (E. Leitrim].)

* THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Lord BALFOUR of BURLEIGH)

My Lords, exactly as the Motion stands I am afraid I am not prepared to assent to it, because there is an ambiguity in the expression "Light Railways." That term is used in the Act only as regards one particular kind of railway, as I understand it; but there are other railways which are really, in fact, light railways, although not technically so, and it would not be possible for the Board of Trade to distinguish one class of railways from another without some intimation from the noble Lord as to what railways he refers to. The Board of Trade Returns already give the particulars asked for as regards all railways, and I would refer the noble Lord to the Parliamentary Paper No. 5,859 for last year. The Returns for the present year are in course of preparation, and will be issued in a very few days; but if the noble Lord will confer with me at the Board of Trade as to what class he means by the term light railways I shall be glad to do what I can to give him the information he asks for. At the same time, as in its present form, as put before your Lordships' House, I cannot assent to the Motion, I hope he will not press it.

THE EARL OF LEITRIM

That is quite satisfactory, and I will withdraw the Motion.

Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.