HC Deb 14 April 1893 vol 11 cc313-6
SIR JAMES WHITEHEAD (Leicester)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can furnish the House with information as to how far the Railway Companies have proceeded with their revision of rates; whether he can give the traders and agriculturists of the country the assurance that they may rely on the old rates on the average not being exceeded; and whether he can specify the time when he will nominate the Select Committee, and give the terms of the Reference?

SIR ALBERT ROLLIT (Islington, S.)

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman what is the present position of the Railway Rates question; and when he proposes to move the appointment of the Select Committee, and to state the terms of the Reference?

Mr. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)

I will further ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can now state the general effect of the concessions, if any, made by the principal Railway Companies as regards rates; and whether he proposes to move immediately for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the subject?

*SIR JAMES WHITEHEAD

I also have to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received from the Railway Companies' Association particulars of the alleged reductions of rates promised in Sir Henry Oakley's letter of the 1st March; and, if so, whether he will cause such particulars to be printed and issued to Members?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA, Sheffield, Brightside)

I am afraid I shall have to trouble the House with an answer of unusual length. After the receipt of Sir Henry Oakley's letter of the 1st March, I caused a Circular to be addressed to the various Railway Companies, asking what steps they proposed to take with the object, of removing the very general complaints made on the subject of rates. I received replies, from 38 companies in England, six in Scotland, and 15 in Ireland, the effect of which was very much the same. The companies state generally that many of their rates have been compulsorily reduced by Parliament; that every effort is being made to meet the reasonable complaints of traders; and that, while no precise rule can be laid down equally applicable to all kinds of traffic, no increase will, unless under exceptional circumstances, exceed 5 per cent., above the rates of 1892. I have also received a letter from Sir Henry Oakley on behalf of the Railway Association, dated 12th April, enclosing a statement issued by the Railway Companies to their several stations, containing a list of articles to be charged at rates other than the ordinary class rates. Sir Henry Oakley states that this revision has removed, so far as classification is concerned, any grounds of dissatisfaction except such as were in existence in 1892. He adds that— The conditions under which traffic is carried have been reconsidered in great detail with the fullest desire to meet all reasonable objections. He states that— The owners' risk, conditions, and allowances have been revised, and those of 18!)2 generally restored; the conditions under which timber was carried have been reinstated; the minimum fractional weight charge applicable to large consignments has been modified; the 'smalls' scale for consignments below 3 cwt. has been reduced; a considerable reduction has been made in the scale for empties. With regard to rates, Sir Henry informs mo that— The companies have endeavoured to carry out in the most prompt and effective manner the assurances given by several of the chairmen to the President of the Board of Trade that no increased rates should be maintained which would interfere with trade or agriculture, and that no increase exceeding 5 per cent. should (unless under exceptional circumstances) be permitted. He adds that— The instructions given are believed to have proved effectual, and that the only question upon rates (unless under exceptional circumstances) now remaining open between any trader and any company is, whether, when rates have been increased by not more than 5 per cent., such increase should be maintained, and this discussion, which is necessarily one of detail dealing with the circumstances of each case, is proceeding. Time has not permitted of the insertion of the revised rates in the Kate Books, but this work, which is one of great complexity, will be completed as soon as possible, and Sir Henry adds that— Upon the whole, the companies believe that the general dissatisfaction which found expression in the month of January last has been now to a great extent removed, if not altogether removed, and although many questions yet remain to be dealt with, the great bulk of the colossal work of revision under the Acts of 1891 and 1892 has now been accomplished. The hon. Baronet asks me whether traders can rely on the old rates not being exceeded, and the hon. Member for East Northamptonshire asks— What is the general effect of the concessions made by the principal Railway Companies as regard rates.' It is impossible for me to give specific answers to these questions. I cannot give any statement of the average of rates extending over hundreds of millions. Every instance of excessive rates brought under my notice has been made the subject of communication with the Railway Companies concerned. Explanations have been asked for, and I have ever endeavoured to obtain for traders a reasonable quotation from the companies with whom they deal. I should be misleading the House if I endeavoured to estimate the precise effect of the revisions made by the companies. I think, however, that this House should be placed in possession of further information than it is possible for me, from my own knowledge, to give it, and I therefore propose at an early date to move the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the effect of the recent revision of rates and the best means of settling any disputes betwixt traders and the companies. The exact terms of Reference I will place upon the Notice Paper very shortly.

*SIR J. WHITEHEAD

I beg to give Notice that, in consequence of the qualifications, the expressed intention to increase certain rates, and the generally unsatisfactory character of the letter of the Railway Companies, I will, on Monday next, ask leave to bring in a temporary Bill to declare illegal all railway rates and charges which exceed those actually being paid on December 31 last, except under the special permission of the Board of Trade or an authority created for the purpose of dealing with complaints, such temporary Bill not to prejudice the rights of the public in regard to further reductions of rates and charges.

SIR A. ROLLIT

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman contemplates that legislation will be necessary to readjust the questions between the timber trade and the companies, having regard to the provisions of the original Act?

MR. MUNDELLA

I cannot answer the question off-hand. I think the matter must also be considered by the Committee of our proposal to appoint which I have given Notice, but I will inform the hon. Member more specifically later on.