SECOND READING. (Hansard, 24 July 1893)

§ * LORD PLAYFAIR

said, this was a very simple Bill. Its object was essentially contained in the 1st clause. Under the Act of 1838, if the rates with regard to the conveyance of mails were not settled by agreement, they were to be decided by arbitration. But the arbitration provided for by the Act of 1838 had been found extremely cumbrous and difficult to work, and the 1st clause in this Bill proposed that the arbiters in future should be the Railway Commissioners who, from their great experience in dealing with rates upon railways, were supposed to be a body which would form an excellent arbitrator in case of disputes as to rates for the conveyance of mails. The 2nd and 3rd clauses were simply for the purpose of embodying in one Bill what was always included in Tramway and Light Railway Acts. The authorities of the House were desirous that the clauses for the protection of the public should be put in and form one general Act. That was the object of those clauses being put into the Bill.