§ MR. JACKS (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade has determined to continue the practice of not availing themselves of the powers given them by "The Regulation of Railways Act, 1873," to take up for traders cases of undue preference against Railway Companies before the Railway Commissioners where the points involved are of public importance; and, if so, whether he would consider the propriety of a Public Department thus declining to 170 use powers given to it by the Legislature, and the consequent advisability of, by legislation, transferring those powers from the Board of Trade to the Home Office, to be used in cases of general or public importance?
§ MR. BRYCENo, Sir; the Board of Trade have not come to any general determination in the matter. Each case must rest upon its own merits. For many years no application has been made to the Board of Trade to use the powers conferred upon them by Section 6 of the Act of 1873; but should any application be made it will be the duty of the Board of Trade carefully to consider what are their powers under the section, and what use ought to be made of such powers as they possess. I see no advantage of considering the advisability of transfer by legislation of those powers from one Department to another.