§ MR. COLLERY (Sligo, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has had any communication with the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland relative to a refund of the excessive charges put on by that company in January last; whether he is aware that the se charges amounted in some cases to 40 and 50 per cent. on certain goods between Dublin and Sligo; whether the se rates have been voluntarily withdrawn by that company, or whether it was owing to competition from a competing line; and if any or all the se increased charges are still continued on goods to intermediate stations where no competition exists; and whether those 1250 charges are regulated by mileage rates, or by such as the circumstances of the case will permit them to make?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have received a communication from the company informing me (1) that where rates have been reduced since the 2nd January, refund is made in all eases where applied for by persons paying freight; (2) rates (Dublin and Sligo) put out on the 2nd January contained increases varying from 1 to 29 per cent., and also decreases from 1 to 30 per cent.; (3) Dublin and Sligo rates have since been reduced, and now stand, compared with 1892, increases varying from 3 to 20 per cent., and decreases from 5 to 35 per cent. With regard to the last question of the hon. Member, competition is undoubtedly an element in fixing a rate.