§ MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the rates over the Great Northern and other Irish Railways are the same per wagon for sheep as well as cattle, irrespective of the size or weight carried; and whether this is owing to any Regulations enforced by the Board of Trade?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)The maximum rates for the conveyance of live stock on Irish railways are embodied in the Railway Rates and Charges Order Confirmation Act, 1892, and were agreed to by the Irish traders at the time of the passing of that Act. The maximum rate for a truck load is the same for sheep as for cattle, the load being limited to such number as may reasonably be carried in the truck. As more sheep can be got into a truck than cattle, the position is scarcely as stated in the hon. Member's question.