§ MR. WATTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government will consider the desirability of making maximum rates in no case exceed those existing prior to the increased scale put in force in many cases last year, unless it can be shown that the traffic resulted in loss or other reasonable cause given, before agreeing; to introduce provisional orders to give effect to the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHI think: there is some confusion in this question 1581 between the maximum rates and the rates actually charged. I am not aware that there was any increase last year in the maximum rates chargeable by the railway companies. As regards the future, the Board of Trade, in fixing the maximum rates, will take into consideration not only existing statutory maxima, but also other circumstances, such as the rate actually charged.