HC Deb 21 February 1899 vol 67 cc36-7
MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway, Ireland, are giving special rates from Ardee to Scotland for cattle, and that that company have declined to give some facilities to the cattle traders of Carrickmacross; whether he is aware that the action of the Great Northern Railway Company in this matter is of great injury to the town of Carrickmacross; and what course does he intend to take in order to give the traders of Carrickmacross the same opportunities of sending cattle to Scotland as the traders of Ardee?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon

I am not aware that the facts are as stated by the honourable Member. The general manager says— The company cannot of themselves give any through rates to Scotland, as they can only control the railway portion of the journey. They have, however, rates in existence to all the shipping ports on their system. He adds— I do not find that any application has been made by the cattle traders of Carrickmacross for through rates to Scotland. A question has been mooted as to the arranging of a through rate via Belfast, which has not, however, been carried out, because of the shipping companies not having seen their way so far to agree to through rates.

MR. DALY

Is the right honourable Gentleman aware that the Carrickmacross Council have applied to the company on this subject?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE

That is not material. My position is this, that the railway companies have no power of themselves to give through rates. The shipping companies to whom the steamers belong will not consider them. The steamers do not belong to the railway company.