§ SIR JOHN DORINGTON (Gloucester, Tewkesbury)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Western and Midland Railway Companies, having established rates for the carriage of milk over their respective lines for distances between 40 and 100 miles at 1d. per gallon, empties free, are entitled to make a charge of 1⅛d. per gallon when conveyed such distances over the two lines combined, and when conveyed jointly over the Great Western, Midland, and Taff Vale lines, 1⅜d. per gallon; and, whether the Board of Trade could bring any influence to bear on these companies to make them give a through rate equal to that for the equivalent mileage on either of the two lines?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe companies referred to are entitled to make a charge a great deal higher than that referred to in the Question, but they put in force the rate mentioned, which is a considerable concession on their part. The Board of Trade are considering a complaint under Section 31 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, upon the subject referred to in the last paragraph of the hon. Baronet's Question, but very considerable difficulty is experienced in applying to a through rate a sum of two local rates.