§ Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his investigations into the action of the railway companies in Belfast in increasing the prices of the weekly tickets issued to the working men since resumption after the strike; whether this action on the part of the railway companies is causing discontent among the workers affected; and whether he will take steps to have this grievance remedied and the former travelling conditions restored?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am informed that there have been for many years past two sets of workmen's fares in operation from stations in the neighbourhood of Belfast, the lower being applicable only to certain very early trains. As work now begins at the shipyards and other large works at 8 or 8.30 a.m., instead of at 6 a.m., as formerly, the men travel to their work by later trains, to which workmen's tickets at the higher rate have always applied, and these fares have not been increased. The difference between the two sets of fares is said not to exceed 1s. a week in any case.