§ SIR J. DORINGTON (Gloucester, Tewkesbury)I wish to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Great Western Railway Company are now charging to traders not having ledger accounts the excessive rates which they have promised to withdraw, whilst the larger traders only now make payments on account pending the settle- 33 merit of rates; and whether he would make a representation to the Railway Company in reference to the hardship thus inflicted on farmers and small traders with a view to its removal?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have been in communication with the General Manager of the Great Western Railway, who states that if any trader who has not a ledger account will apply to the company any reduced rate adopted since 1st January, 1893, will be applied to his consignments in the same manner as those having ledger accounts. He further states that all reductions made during the revision will be applied retrospectively as from the 1st January, 1893, and that no distinction is drawn between large and small traders in the matter.