§ COLONEL KENYON-SLANEY (Shropshire, Newport)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the Town Council of the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme has recently, by an alteration in its bye-laws, very largely increased the market tolls on agricultural produce; whether such alterations have been approvd by any Department of the Government; and, whether, in view of its serious and damaging effect on the agriculture generally of the district, he will intervene to procure a reconsideration of the subject, or will suggest what action should be taken to that end?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OP THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HERBERT GARDNER,) Essex, Saffron WaldenI 1037 have been in communication with the Town Council of Newcastle-under-Lyme on this subject, and I am informed that in no case have the tolls on agricultural produce been increased, but that, on the other hand, they have in several items been decreased. The tolls have not been approved by any Department of the Government, the Mayor, as Clerk of the Markets, being empowered under a Local Act to fix the amount of the tolls to be collected. The matter is not one in which I have any authority to intervene, and I can only suggest that the agriculturists of the district should bring their case under the notice of the Town Council with a view to its further consideration.