The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY PROPRIETORS' ASSOCIATION.

li;deputation from thiti recently-formed association had
a lengthened interview yesterday with the Chancellor of
the Exchequer for the purpose of asking him to reduce
the duty upon railway proxies.
Mr. W. MALINS, the chairman of the association,
urged upon the right hon. gentleman the evils which re-
sulted from the present high duty of 2s. 6d. upon every
railway proxy that was issued. The consequence was,
ho said, that paid railway chairmen, or others who had
a direct object to serve, sent out proxies at their own
expense, and carried their views in opposition to the
wishes of a vast number of the shareholders, who, not
having such direct interests at stake, could not go to the
expense of sending out many hundreds of proxies. In
some cases directors even sent proxies to their own
friends only, and charged the cost of the stamps to the
company.

The Cruarcnr.on of the EXCHEQUER expressed him-
self surprised at such a proceeding, and said that it was
anything bat a fair way of eliciting the opinions of the
shareholders. Did the association suppose, however,
that railway proprietors were so lethargic that when
their interests were involved they would not go to the
expense of 2s. 64 for a stamp of their own accord ?
Mr. MALINS said that experience had proved that they
would not. Proxy stamps, accompanied by ex parte cir-
culars, were profusely scattered by the directors, and the
consequence was that country shareholders, having only
one side of the question before them, were constantly
misled, and votad in ignorance of the real facts of the
case.

Mr. GASKELL said that the association pressed the
question radior on morals grounds than as a matter of
revenue. If the Government would yield this duty, he
should have no objection, as a railway shareholder, to
be taxed in anotitar form.

Mr. MICHELL said he calculated that, if the stamp
was reduced to ld., at least 16 proxies would be need
where one was used at present. This would yield ls. 4d.
for stamps, is. 4d. for postage is sending the proxies to
the individuals, and ls. 4d. returning thee, or 4s. in
place of is. Bd., as at present.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER attributed much
of the present depreciation of railway property to the
course of legislation which had permitted competition ;
but still he could readily conceive that so large a stamp
as 2s. 6d. did interfere somewhat with the free expression
of voting. lie asked what they thought would be the
effect of reducing the stamp to ls.
The deputation were unanimous in urging that, un-
less it were reduced to 6d. at the highest, no ♦ery
tangible result would be obtained. With a sixpenny
stamp, however, they believed that a great moral in-
fluence might be brought to bear by independent share-
holders upon directors.
After some remarks from Mr. HODGSON, Mr. Fox,
and other 4,

Sir' C. LEWIS stated that he quite understood the
object which the deputation had in view, and that he
would give the subject his best consideration.

RAILWAY BILLS IN PARLIAMENT.

The compliances yesterday wore as folio ws7---
MID-KENT DIRECT (BROMLEY TO ST. MARY'S CRAY).
--To complete the Farnborough extension of the West-
end of London and Crystal Palace Railway ; the Mid.
Kent and North Kent Junction Railway ; and use of
portion of South-Eastern Railway.

INVERNESS AND ABERDEEN JUNCTION.—To construct
a railway from Nairn to Keith, with powers to use the
Inverness and Nairn. The estimated cost is 325,000/.

MORAYSHIRE.—To make a railway from Orton to
Crligellachie, and to raise additional capital,

KILLARNEY JUNCTION AND TRALEE AND KILLARNEY.
—To facilitate the makinE and completion of the line
,hrough the estates of the Earl of Kenmore.

EPSOM AND LEATHERHEAD.—For construction of line.
The bilk that did not comply were—Mid-Kent
(Bromley extension) and West-of Fife Mineral.
The London, Barking, -and Victoria Docks Juncticn
Railway will not be proceeded with.