§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the 50 per cent, increase in railway fares has caused many thousands of the London people in the police area to travel by tram and omnibus, causing fighting to obtain seats, and in many cases dozens of people have to wait about for many minutes before they can get away, and in consequence much working time has been lost; if he is aware that the present number of trams and omnibuses is quite insufficient to carry the people travelling by such means; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
Mr. ROBERTSThere can be little doubt that, owing to the restriction of railway facilities and the increase in passenger fares necessitated by urgent national requirements, a number of London people travel by trams and omnibuses who formerly travelled by train and that the tramway and omnibus authorities may have difficulty in coping with the demands made upon them. I fear, however, that it is not possible to prevent the inconvenience to which the hon. Gentleman refers.