§ MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Select Committee, to inquire into and report upon the prevailing system of preferential rates for Foreign goods and produce imported into the three Kingdoms.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, prohibits Railway Companies from making any difference in rates for home and foreign merchandise, in respect of the same or similar services. I have no evidence that this law is infringed by any "prevailing system," and I cannot recommend the appointment of a Select Committee, but I shall be quite prepared to inquire into any specific cases in which complaint of preferential rates is made by or on behalf of traders aggrieved.
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the difficulty that exists in ascertaining the facts, because of the way in which the books are kept?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI had better have notice of that Question.