§ MR. WALTER M'LARENasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had received notices of objection from the British Dairy Farmers' Association to the proposed schedules of maximum rates of the 26 chief railway companies in the kingdom, chiefly in respect of their proposals regarding the carriage of milk; whether, although almost all milk was carried by passenger trains, there were no genuine proposals in the schedules for a reasonable maximum rate; whether some companies proposed to take power to charge for milk conveyed by passenger trains 2d. per 1b. or 1s. 8d. a gallon for any distance however short; whether all the objections contend that the companies should be asked to state clearly their real proposed rate for the carriage of milk by passenger trains; and, whether he would comply with this request, and order the companies to amend their proposals in the way suggested?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.said that notices of objection of the kind described in the question had been received by the Board of Trade. They had evidently been drawn up with great care, and contained statements and arguments which were well worthy of consideration; but as he had to form an opinion on the matter after hearing both sides, he could not, of course, say now what his opinion was likely to be.
§ MR. M'LARENWill the right hon. Gentleman say when the parties will be heard? Will it be not until after all the notices have been lodged?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe hearing will not begin until after that time.