The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-28 00:00:00

the county of Kent, and that *measures- for that purpose are
now matucingin connection with other interests in the county.
Peach. lam puly called upon to say one word upon
this new motion, in consequence Of the estraordinary state-
intait which has b n made by 'Vie hou. member who has just
sat down. The c.,anty of Bent have been endeavouring to
get this railway accommodation for years. It has been a con-
test with the S.mtli-EaStern Company for some six or seven
years, and upon each occasion there has been a counter pro.
ject brought forward by that • company. The landowners in
that neighbourhood do not want to he railway makers. They
would only hare been too glad if the. South-Eastern Company
would have given them the accommodation which they wanted,
and it was utter despair that trey would never be able to get
a line unless they themselves stirred in the business that in-
duced them to promote the bill they have. And now, for-
sooth, the directors of the South-Eastern Company, who
pledged themselves by their counsel—solemnly pledged them-
selves-Ahat the bill before the committee was a bona fide bill,
and that it was their intention 'to crrry it out, 'and who came
immediately afterwards to a determination not to fulfil that
pledge, come before you and tell you that all this while they
are considering the interests of the county of Kent. As there
is no opposition to this motion I will not go further into the
question ; but I do feel that a statement of that sort ought
not to weigh with the house, and I hope that it will not at
all Weigh with the committee When the question is referred to
them. (Hear, hear.) • _

Mr. James Macgregor—l have one request, and one only
to make, in connection with this matter. It is, that if any
doubt is entertained as to what the conduct of the South-
Eastern Company has been in former years, with regard to its
bona- fides, or the humble part which I have acted in it, the
noble lord will do me the favour to call me before the commit-
tee, and to take my testimony with respect to it. (Cheers.)
Mr. Laing—As the representative of a neighbouring rail-
way interest I trust that in the recommittal of these bills
the public interests involved may not be at all prejudiced, and
that there may be no feeling on the part of the committee
because the South-Eastern Company may be supposed im-
properly to have withdrawn their bill, that therefore the
other bills are to be passed as a matter of course, in order,
as it were, to punish the South-Eastern Company. It may
be remembered that one of the bills which was thrown out
by the committee was strongly opposed by the Brighton Rail-
way Company on the ground of public safety. A great deal
tohfeevißdrigenheteonwasemgmivennuypon that point, and I may state that
gnhsitdienratboletha-
emc
cession of revenue wpa hichrinefingshetdhtaoreacbeeeePntbarocuo
by that line, because they conscientiously believed that the
manner of junction proposed with the Brighton line would
have been attended with great danger to the public. I caa
only express what I think is due to a sense of justice, with-
out knowing anything more of the merits of the question,
when I say that, after the statements which have been made,
it would only be fair to the majority of the South-Eastern
directors, who resolved not to proceed with the bill, that
they should have the opportunity of being heard by counsel
before the committee, in order that they may satisfy the
committee how far the imputations of a breach of faith are or
are not well founded.

Lord Harry Vane—lt was not my intention to have said
anything upon the present motion but for the observations
which have been just made. I beg to assure the house and
the hon. member that the circumstances to which he has
alluded are perfectly within the knowledge of the committee.
It is perfectly true that a good dell of opposition was made
to the junction on account of the great traffic, and a consider.
able amount of evidence was heard upon the subject. The
committee went through all those matters, and they bear
in mind perfectly all that passed upon the subject, I re.
collect full well, and I have no doubt other members do also.
the reasons which were stated by the Brighton Company why
the committee should refuse their sanction to the proposi-
tion in question. Whether or not the committee may think
it right to hear counsel upon the subject to which the hon.
member has referred will be a matter for the consideration of
the committee when they meet. I wish to guard myself, in
the observations which I have made, from the supposition
that the committee are going, as a matter of course, to pass
these bills, which are again to be referred to them, or either
of them. Full attention will be given to those points of op-
'position which were urged by the Brighton Company, and
the committee will decide upon the bills referred to them
upon their respective and individual merits, and will be
guided by no other consideration whatever. (Cheers.)
The motion was then agreed to.