§ (3.35.) MR. COURTNEYMy next proposal deals with a very different matter. Under the existing Standing Order 166A, every Committee to which a Railway Bill is submitted is required to incorporate with the Bill a clause providing that the rates and charges shall be subject to the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888. Now, as is well known, these rates and charges have been subjected to much examination and revision during the last two years. The rates for several leading companies have been thus revised, and it has been thought it will be more convenient if the Committee, instead of adopting the clause under this Standing Order, adopt the rates and charges scheduled for the principal railway in the area into 328 which the promoters intend to carry their new line. It will be observed that this is proposed experimentally for the Session, and the Committee will depart from the Standing Order 166A only when they think fit to do so.
Ordered, That it be an Instruction to Committees on Bills of the present Session for Incorporating Railway Companies, that they be at liberty, if they think fit, to omit the Clause required by Standing Order 166A in any case where they shall be of opinion that rates and charges in respect of merchandise traffic can be conveniently and properly fixed by reference to any Schedule already sanctioned by a Rates and Charges Order Confirmation Act.—(The Chairman of Ways and Means.)