§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Railway Companies are endeavouring to enforce the 5 per cent. advance on rates and charges; and whether he will make further representations to the Companies on the subject?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI am aware that there are cases in which the Railway Companies are charging 5 per cent. in advance of the rates and charges of 1892, and that this action has been, and continues to be, the subject of representation by the Board of Trade. A Select Committee is at present inquiring into the manner in which the Railway Companies have exercised the powers conferred upon them by the Railway Rates and Charges Order Confirmation Acts, 1891 and 1892, and pending the Report nothing more can be done.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONDid not the Railway Companies undertake to revert to the rates of 1892?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo. In the letters which I read to this House they showed that in some cases they would go back to the rates of last year, and in others they undertook that the increase should not exceed 5 per cent.
§ MR. MUNDELLAThat is for the Committee, of which the hon. Gentleman is a Member, to find out.
§ MR. MORTONWas not the original understanding that the rates of 1892 should be reverted to, and was not the increase of 5 per cent. an afterthought?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo; I cannot say that. The rates were divided into groups, some being below last year's rates, others equal, and a third lot was not to exceed them by 5 per cent. The Committee must inquire into these questions. I have done all I could in the way of remonstrance.
MR. FIELDIt seems to be a matter over which we have no control. Will not the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Companies?
§ MR. MUNDELLAScarcely a day passes without my Department sending some communication to the Companies. We have done all we possibly can to bring them back to the old rates.