§ MR. ARTHUR PEELasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been directed to a decision given in the Exchequer Division of the High Court of Justice on the 18th of June last, in the case of the Warwick and Birmingham Canal Navigation Company and others, the London and North Western Railway Company and others, and the Warwick and Birmingham Canal, &c.; whether, if the state of the Law is such as is therein indicated, one of the main purposes of "The Regulation of Railways Act, 1873," namely, to facilitate "through" rates and " through " traffic on Canals as well as on Railways is not practically rendered nugatory; and, whether, in the event of this decision being upheld, it will be necessary to amend the law in this respect?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONUntil a decision has been given by the last Court of Appeal, I do not think I should be right in expressing: an opinion on this subject, or in saying what course the Government would propose to pursue if the decision of the Exchequer Division is maintained. As far as the interest of commerce is concerned, the matter is certainly a serious one; and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that I do not underrate, by any means, its importance.