The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-27 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES,
HOUSE OF COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY).

GROUP I.

- - --
The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits 01
the Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual
hour this morning; Mr. W. O. Stanley in the chair.
TIRE BRIGHTON MID-KENT SCHEME.

The landholders' opposition having been closed,
Mr. AUSTIN rose to reply on behalf of the South-Eastern
Company. He complained that his Learned Friend's (Mr.
Talbot) speech, on opening the Brighton case, was unne-
cessarily long, embraced useless topics, and dwelt too much
upon what was termed the equity of the case. Now the
equity of the case comprised the question of who were
the original occupants of the county of Kent. It
was true the Croydon line was the first projected
into Kent, but the Croydon Railway was constructed for
lines going to the north, or through the midland divisions
of Kent. The Croydon line, indeed, had already accom-
plished its destiny, and become part of the Brighton and Chi-
chester Railway ; and it was unjust to the public for the
Croydon Company to get up an opposition to the South-
Eastern line, not for accommodating the real wants of the
county of Kent, but for the purpose of perpetuating a toll of
30,0001. per annum, payable by the South-Eastern Company
for passing over the ten miles of the Croydon line. The
worn out question of fares he would leave to the
Committee without comment, nor would he occupy any
time in discussing the parcel matter, because he felt
convinced that the evidence he had adduced had
fully satisfied the Committee upon those •points.
It was evident, from the tone and manner of his Learned
Friend, that he did not dispute the right of the South-Eastern
Company to make a North Kent Line; in point of fact, in
presenting an alternative to the Committee, either to allow
his line to be made from Sittingbourne to Canterbury, with
power to the South-Eastern Company to work over it, or to
grant the South-Eastern line with power to the Brighton
Company to work over it, his Learned Friend practically
conceded the North Kent line to the South-Eastern Com-
pany. That impression of the offer was borne out by the
testimony of Mr. Wilkinson, the Deputy Chairman of the
South Coast line, who stated that the Brighton Company
never contemplated going to Dover, and it was, therefore, tv
be inferred, that the only object the Brighton Company had
in carrying their Mid-Kent scheme from Maidstone to Can-
terbury was, to enable them to claim the right of making
a new station at Maidstone. Indeed, the idea of the
Brighton Company ever intending to go to Dover was not
only a romance, but a delusion, and he hoped the Committee
would treat it accordingly. Now it would seem that the
witnesses of the Brighton Company preferred the Brighton
line, not so much for its superior merits as from a want of
confidence in the South-Eastern Company. Let him just
endeavour to ascertain upon what foundation such a feeling
rested. It was admitted on both sides that the angle at
Reigate was an error. The South-Eastern Company had
long discovered that it was a mistake, and that considera-
tion alone was sufficient to induce them to make their Mid-
Kent scheme; but there was a still stronger inducement for
their doing so. They had to pay a toll of 20,0001. to the
Croydon Company, and of course they were anxious
to rid themselves and the public of such a tax. Upon
what foundation, then, rested the doubts as to the
sincerity of the South-Eastern Company in proposing this
Mid-Kent scheme? Now, then, as to the public necessity of
this line. Whatever might be the decision of that day, the
Mid Kent line must be sooner or later made. The French
lines were fast approaching completion, and Paris: would
soon, in point of distance, become an easy coast town. Lon-
don was already in that position ; but still the public exi-
gencies—not as comprised in local interests, but in a national
want—required that London should be brought still nearer to
the coast. That end could only be attained by the construc-
tion of a Mid-Kent line, and until that line were granted,
the South-Eastern Company was bound to contest it to the
last penny in their cotters. This question had already been
before Parliament three years, at an expense of from
70,0001. to 80,0001. per session. Multiply either of those
two sums by three, it would give the total expense already
incurred in endeavouring to bring this question
to an end. That expense must fall upon the
public. If this question were delayed the South-Eastern
Company would still have to add every session, so long as
the present standing orders existed, a sum of from 70,00 W.
to 80,0001. to the total, and he put it to the Committee whether
this was not sufficiently conclusive premises in support
of the proposition, that the present was the best time for
' settling the question ? Well, then, the next point to be con•
tidered was, which of the two lines was tue best. In his
opinion there could be no doubt that the South-Eastern was
the most preferable. A bold attempt had been made to ex •
aggerate the local requirements and the local traffic of the
Mid-Kent district as traversed by the Brighton scheme, but,
whatever might be said to the contrary, there could be no
question about it, that a Mid-Kent line must depend
for support upon the Continental traffic rather than
to supplying local conveniences. But he maintained
that the South-Eastern line accommodated the fruit
trade, the agriculture, and the population of Mid-Kent in
a far better manner than the Brighton scheme. In an en-
gineering point of view the South-Eastern line was immea-
surably the superior of the two, while, independently of the
better gradients, the lines throughout being under the same
management, would enable the South-Eastern Company to
work their line more easily and more economically than
the Brighton.
The Learned Gentleman had not closed his address when
the Committee adjourned, at the usual hour, till twelve
o'clock to-morrow ( this day).