§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the President of the 21 Board of Trade, If it is a fact that the Corporation of Guildford levies a toll on all wheat and other grain, whether British grown or foreign, brought into the municipal market for sale; to what purposes the proceeds are devoted; if any complaint, by either producers, middlemen, or local consumers, has been received upon the subject; and, if there are any other City, Borough, or Harbour Authorities in the United Kingdom, besides the Corporation of London, who, being duly empowered by law, levy a duty upon imports of grain into the locality under their jurisdiction for local purposes?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)With regard to the first part of the Question, the Town Clerk of Guildford informs the Board of Trade that a toll is taken, not on all wheat and other grain brought into the market at Guildford, but only on all wheat sold in the market. This toll is one pint per sack; and the corn taken as toll is ultimately sold, and the proceeds paid into the Treasurer of the Borough to the credit of the Borough Fund—that is, the proceeds are devoted in aid of the borough rate. No complaint has, to the Town Clerk's knowledge, been made to the Corporation by either producers, middlemen, or local consumers on the subject of this toll. With regard to the latter part of the Question—namely, as to whether duties on grain brought into a particular locality are levied by other City, Borough, or Harbour Authorities in the country—the Board of Trade are aware that such duties are levied by some Harbour Authorities, and they believe they are levied by other City and Borough Authorities as regards articles brought into markets; but they have no official information in detail as to what is done by cities and boroughs. As the hon. Member is aware, a Royal Commission is now inquiring as to market rights and tolls.