Lieutenant-Colonel MALONEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the 50 per cent. increase on ordinary railway fares and the 20 per cent. increase on season tickets were imposed by the Government as purely war measures, the latter especially pressing with great severity on a large number of the inhabitants of East Leyton who can very ill afford to pay it, he can see his way to abolish or reduce this increase as soon as possible?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI regret the hardship referred to, but I am afraid that the present position of the railways does not justify a reduction of the existing charges for ordinary or season tickets. I may point out, however, that in the case of season tickets covering railway distances under 12 miles the increase is only 10 per cent.