§ MR. MACARTNEY; On behalf of the hon. Member for Londonderry, I bog to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway Company (Ireland) are charging for the carriage of dead pigs exceptional rates higher than their class rate, and that they are charging collected and delivered rates between certain stations where they have no cartage staffs to perform the services charged for; and whether he will make any representation to the Company on the matter?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, BrightsideI have communicated with 1472 the Company on the subject of the hon. Member's question, and the General Manager informs mo that the rates for dead pigs are strictly within the Parliamentary classification, and instead of being higher are actually lower than formerly. He adds that the rates for this traffic were reduced from fourth to first class under the Provisional Order of 1892, and that the Company instead of receiving any increase of revenue from this traffic has been subjected to considerable loss. As to cartage, it is stated that the arrangements are precisely those in force on the English railways—namely, where the Company does not perform cartage an allowance is made to the person doing so.