The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-03 00:00:00

4

LADIES' COMPARTMENTS.

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The Board of Trade have published the replies re-
ceived from the various railway companies to the cir-
culars addressed to them some time ago calling atten-
tion to the advisability of providing separate com-
partments for female passengers. The Great Western
Company state that it has been their practice to set
apart for the accommodation of ladies compartments
of each class in all the principal trainsT between
London and the West; tut it was found that whereas
in a given period the number of seats so provided was
1060, the maximum number occupied at any point
on the journey was only 248. The letter added
that during the period referred to it was found
that no less than 5141 female passengers occu-
pied seats in smoking compartments.—A similar
reply has been received from the London and North-
Western Railway Company, who state that for
many years past it has been the custom to reserve
separate compartments in third-class carriages for
fem Plea it all their main-line trains, and also, to a
limited extent, first and second-class compartments.
It is also stated that a third-class compartment,
marked "Ladies only," was set apart in the train by
which Miss Scragg, who was assaulted, travelled from
Wellington to Shrewsbury in August last. In practice
there is frequently a disinclination on the part of
ladies to enter these specially-reserved compartments.
On the London and South-Western Railway Company
compartments for ladies are reserved upon applica-
tion, and duly labelled. During six days in October
last 205 compartments, accommodating 1109 pas-
sengers were reserved in 201 trains; but only 143
passengers availed themselves of them. The Midland
Railway Company points out that separate accommo-
dation is provided when asked for, and adds that
some years ago special compartments for ladies
were reserved on the main line trains to
and from Scotland, but they were so rarely
occupied that the practice was abolished. The
Great Northern report that "ladies' compartments
are not popular, and are seldom asked for ;" the
London and Brighton, "that the accommodation is
rarely demanded ;" the London, Chatham, and
Dover, that "there is practically no demand for such
exclusive accommodation ;" while the Great Eastern
Company make the remark that "ladies, for some
reason, are unwilling to travel in compartments set
aside wholly for them." On the Metropolitan Railway
special compartments were at one time reserved for
ladies ; "but they we're frequently empty, and other
passengers complained when the trains were crowded
that these compartments were wasted." Answers of
the same tenor came from various railway companies
throughout the kingdom. They all appear willing to
grant special accommodation or protection to ladies
when requested, but there is a universal expression of
opinion that the ladies generally wish to travel only
h‘sas ordinary passengers in the compartments provided
kfor general passenger traffic.
IRISH JUDICATURE AMEND-
MENT ACT.
The bill brought in by Mr. Balfour, and prepared
by the Chief Secretary, the Solicitor-General for
reland, and Colonel King-Harman, has been printed
-nd circulated amongst members of Parliament. It
provides that, on the occasion of the first :vacancy
after thQ passing of the measure in the office of Judge
of the Courts of Probate and for Matrimonial Causes
and Matters, the vacancy shall not be filled, and the
lank and title of Judge of the Courts of Probate and
for Matrimonial Causes and Matters shall be abolished,
ra the Probate and Matrimonial Division shall b 3
;united and consolidated with the Queen's Bench Divi-
sion. On the occasion of the next vacancy in the
office of the Lord Chancellor for Ireland, the salary
shall be reduced to £6OOO per annum. No successor
shall be appointed to either of the existing judges in
the Court of Bankruptcy; but on a vacancy the re-
maining judge shall continue the duties, and when in
turn a vacancy occurs in, his office, the court shall be
united to the Supreme Court of Judicature. Tke Judge
of the High Court exercising judgment in bankruptcy
may exercise in Chambers the whole or sny part of
his jurisdiction. The Accountant-General's salary,
after the next vacancy, shall be fixed by the Treasury,
as also will be that of his clerks, and all rules of court
shall be made by three or more of the following per-
sons: The Lord Chancel' )r, the Lord Chief Justice, the
Master of the Rolls, the Lord Chief Baron of the Ex-
chequer, and three, or after the occurrence of a
vacancy in the office of the Lord Chief Baron, four
other judges of the Supremo Court