

THE RAILWAYS ACT OF 1913 245 



of the House. On 7th November the Prime Minister (Mr. 

 Asquith) announced that the Bill could not be further pro- 

 ceeded with owing to lack of time. On 4th December an 

 amended Bill was introduced, which only dealt with the 

 question of increased cost of working due to improved labour 

 conditions being held to be a justification of increased rates. 

 The new Bill (unlike the first) left the onus of proving the 

 reasonableness of an increase of rates upon the company. 

 So far it was an improvement on the original Bill, but as it 

 also contained unsatisfactory features, the Committee advised 

 that the second reading be opposed. Mr. Charles Bathurst, 

 supported by Mr. Basil Peto (M.P. for Devizes), made strenu- 

 ous efforts to amend it in Committee, but it was forced 

 through, and received the Royal Assent on 7th March, 1913. 



1913. 



The railway companies in May gave notice of a general 

 increase of rates, equal on an average to a rise of 4 per cent., 

 except in the case of coal and coke, the reason for this 

 exemption being fairly obvious. Many complaints of the 

 increased rates were made to the Board of Trade, and several 

 cases are now pending before the Railway Commission. 



A Memorandum on Agricultural Grievances in relation 

 to railways was drawn up by the Secretary, and approved 

 by the Council, for the use of Mr. Charles Bathurst, who 

 attended as a member of a parliamentary deputation, which 

 waited upon the Prime Minister in reference to future relations 

 between the railways and the State. 



Towards the end of 1913 the Government appointed a 

 Royal Commission, with Lord Loreburn as Chairman, to 

 inquire into the relationship between the railway companies 

 and the State in respect of matters other than safety of work- 

 ing and conditions of employment. The Commission is com- 

 posed of prominent business men, and is the first impartial 

 tribunal which has inquired into railway matters for a great 

 many years. 



