§ MR. P. J. O'BRIEN (Tipperary, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company's intention to increase the rates on their goods traffic, including artificial manures and breadstuffs, to stations in the South of Ireland between Dublin and Cork, to the detriment of trade and commerce in that district; is he aware that in some instances the proposed increase is nearly 50 per cent. per ton without regard to equality as to individual localities, the proposed rate for artificial manures showing an increase of 1s. per ton to Nenagh, but only 6d. per ton to Cloughjordan station, which is only ten miles nearer Dublin, the same discrepancy existing in other items of produce to competitive stations on the line; and whether, seeing that on the amalgamation of the Great Southern and Western Company with the Waterford and Limerick Company the understanding was that there would be no increase of rates but a decrease, he will inform the House what steps he will take in order to safeguard the public interests in this matter.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am aware of the proposal by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company to increase rates, but the Board of Trade have no detailed information as to the rates covered by the proposal. The Amalgamation Act of 1900 provides that the actual rates charged on the 30th June of that year shall not be increased directly or indirectly without the consent of the Railway and Canal Commissioners. I am informed that the Railway Company has given notice of an application to the Commissioners, and the matter is therefore not one in which the Board of Trade can intervene.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYAs the increase of rates is general, is there no practice under which the Board of Trade can be represented at the inquiry?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI think not.