§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the word "charge" in Clause 1 of the Railways (No. 2) Bill is intended to include passenger fares?
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked in what respect the provisions of Section 1 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894, are inadequate to carry out the objects sought to be attained by the Railways (No. 2) Bill recently introduced into this House?
Mr. BUXTONThe Act of 1894 requires a railway company to justify an increase of rate before the Railway and Canal Commission, if challenged, but does not indicate what circumstances are to be regarded as a valid justification in any given case, and it has been doubted how far a general rise in the cost of working a rail- 477W way due to improvements in labour conditions can be pleaded as justifying the increase of a particular rate unelss and in so far as the cost of that particular traffic has been affected by the general rise. The Railways (No. 2) Bill provides that, on proof of the various matters enumerated in the Bill, a general rise in cost of working due to improved conditions of labour introduced since August, 1911, shall be treated as justifying a reasonable increase in a particular rate.