§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the London and Tilbury Company raised their rates for manure, etc., by 15 per cent. at the time that every other railway company was making reductions in charges for agricultural goods; at what date they will, as stated by him, return to the old rate; and whether they can be made to return to their customers the amounts illegally charged in excess for the last four years?
§ THE PRESTDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croydon)As the hon. and gallant Member is aware the companies undertook to revert to the old rates. The Board have put pressure upon the companies to give effect to this arrangement, but at present they have not done so. The position is unsatisfactory, and the Department will request representatives of the companies to attend a meeting at the Board of Trade and explain matters.