§ MR. P. M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that several disputes are at present pending between traders and Railway Companies in Ireland; what steps, if any, does this Department propose to take to have those disputes settled; is he aware that the disputants are awaiting the action of the Government in regard to the Report of the Select Committee on Railway Rates and Charges; and when do the Government propose giving legislative effect to the recommendations of the Committee?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA, Sheffield, Brightside)I have only knowledge of disputes which are brought to the notice of the Board of Trade under the provisions of Section 31 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, known as the "Conciliation Clause." The Board of Trade has no power to decide those or any other disputes. Some of them are matters which may form the subject of complaint to the Railway Commissioners, and there is nothing in the present state of the law to prevent such complaints being made. The Report of the Committee has only to-day been circulated; and I am unable to say at present what action will be taken in reference to it.