§ MR. JEFFREYSI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a copy of the resolution passed lately by the Central Chamber of Agriculture with reference to the uncertainty of the law as to the preferential rates on foreign produce charged by English railway companies; and, whether he will introduce a Bill to define the law on the subject and to give powers to the Board of Trade to carry the law into effect?
§ MR. BRYCEYes, Sir; I received the Resolution referred to, but I am not prepared to admit that the law on the subject is uncertain. The Railway Commissioners in a recent judgment gave a very clear and able exposition of its meaning, and were able to give practical effect to their interpretation by directing an alteration in certain rates which, in their judgment, were open to question, and it is possible that other cases may arise in which further declarations of the meaning and effect of the Statute may be given. It would, 911 therefore, seem premature to consider the question of altering the law at this moment.