§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an arrangement exists between the carrying corporations and the Birkenhead Customs authority that consignments of foreign meat over a certain weight, conveyed by special train to London, are carried at the rate of 25s. per ton, and that a rate of 50s. per ton is charged for the same service upon native meat consigned to London per ordinary goods train outside the Birkenhead Customs area; whether he will make inquiry and amend this preferential rate to foreign produce.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir; I am aware of no such arrangement. 648 The hon. Member may perhaps remember that in answer to a Question put by him in 1897 my right hon. friend the Home Secretary stated that the London and North Western Railway Company had informed him that the rate for the carriage of meat from Liverpool to London by goods train was 25s. a ton for a minimum weight of three tons, and 40s. a ton for smaller quantities above three cwt., and that these rates were charged irrespective of the source of origin of the meat. As I have on previous occasions informed the hon. Member, I shall be glad to make inquiry into any specific cases of unfair treatment alleged on the part of persons receiving or sending or desiring to send goods by railway.
§ MR. FIELDIf I furnish the right hon. Gentleman with facts on this question, will he make inquiry?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI must have specific cases before I can inquire.