§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the intention of the Government to propose to the House during the Session any, mid if any what, alteration in the Law affecting the carriage of parcels by Railways?
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, in reply, that a clause in a Bill now under the charge of the President of the Board of Trade dealt with this subject, and he was glad to have this opportunity of removing a misconception which nothing in the clause, as originally drawn, warranted, though he admitted it required alteration in other respects. An idea had become prevalent that it was the Government's intention to change the law with respect to "packed" parcels, and to interfere with the practice of sending various articles to different consignees, packed within one inclosure. The Government never had any intention of the kind, but proposed to deal with another practice, that of a carrier collecting a variety of parcels of different descriptions and different values, and bringing all to the railway, in bulk as it were, unpacked and unassorted; large parcels of small value being mixed with small parcels of large value. For these, the carriers paid, in the aggregate, a low charge, as if these 1334 loose packages were one parcel, while they themselves received from the individual consignors or consignees a separate payment for each, the difference between the two rates being their profit. This custom was productive of great convenience to the public in many places; but the railway companies complained that they were exposed to much trouble and risk in collecting and carrying articles of value of which they were frequently ignorant, and it was under consideration whether the case might not be fairly met either by some system of classification, or a small charge for the trouble and risk. But it never was the intention of the Government to interfere with packed parcels properly so called, nor to place the carriers in a position different from that of any other consignor, though he admitted that apprehension on this latter ground was justifiable in consequence of the draughtsman not having fully understood his instructions.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, he wished to know, whether it is the intention of the Board of Trade to take some steps for the purpose of informing the public of their present views in respect to the matter referred to?
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEsaid, the question would come before the Board of Trade to-morrow. He thought that the answer which he had just given would be intelligible enough to the public.