§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the statements reported to have been made by Lord Compton to the electors of Barnsley, alleging that the effect of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act has been to increase the rates for goods and minerals, and the terminal charges of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway and the Great Northern Railway, and that schedules have been submitted for the approval of the Board of Trade for still higher rates, amounting in the case of coal to 3s. per ton; and whether such statements were founded upon fact?
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHMy attention has been called to the statements by the Question of my hon. Friend. I think they are based upon an entire misconception of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act of last Session, and the difference between the maximum rates and the rates actually charged. If a Railway Company desires to raise the rates actually charged, it can only do so, since the Act came into operatian, by giving public notice, which would be sent to the Board of Trade. I am not aware that this Railway Company has done so. In regard to the maximum rates, they, of course, have sent in a schedule, as other companies have done, according to the provisions of the Act. Those maximum rates must be compared, not with the rates actually charged by them, but with their statutory powers, and, of course, they will be subjected to the revision of the Board of Trade and of Parliament.