§ Mr. JAMES THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the West Cumberland district of the London and North-Western Railway locomotive men are not allowed sufficient stores for their engines and in-sufficient time to get their engines ready before starting with trains; and, having regard to the fact that this economy of both time and stores is calculated to destroy the confidence required by engine-drivers and firemen to enable them to perform their responsible duties to the satisfaction of the company and the safety of the travelling public, what action he proposes to take?
Mr. BUXTONI invited the London and North-Western Railway Company's observations on my hon. Friend's question, and they inform me that they have no knowledge of any representations having been made to them with regard to these matters. They add:—
Drivers in the West Cumberland district are treated exactly the same as those on other sections of the London and North-Western Railway. It is a very small district in which no express trains and no large modern types of engines are run. Sufficient supplies of oil and other stores are issued, otherwise this failure would be shown by an increased number of engines having to be treated for hot bearings; whereas the fact is that, in this particular district, the number is below normal. Ample time is allowed the drivers to get their engines ready, and practically no alteration has been made in this respect in the district for a number of years.