MR. MAGALEESE (Monaghan, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade has his attention been drawn to a resolution passed unanimously by the Monaghan County Council, at the meeting of that board on the 22nd ultimo, urging the Government to appoint a Commission to inquire into the excessive charges on freights made by the Irish Railway Companies, and to provide a remedy; and can he hold out the hope that a Commission for the purpose will be appointed?
§ MR. DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that much dissatisfaction prevails in Ireland owing to the high railway rates prevailing there; and whether he will advise the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the rates and charges made upon Irish railways?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEI will answer the Questions of the honourable Members for North and South Monaghan together. The whole subject of the powers of railway companies in regard to rates and charges 1116 was examined by a Commission and by a Joint Committee as recently as 1892, and I am unable to recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to reopen the subject.