§ MR MANSFIELD (Lincolnshire, Spalding)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange an inquiry into the question of railway rates for agricultural produce, with a view to the rates for home produce being reduced to those charged for similar traffic from abroad.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF the BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)I can not undertake to arrange for such an Inquiry until I have evidence of the existence of the grievance suggested. At present, I have no evidence that higher charges for the same or similar services are made by railway-companies for home produce as compared with imported produce. Such charges would be in direct contravention of the provisions of Section 27 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1886. Any evidence as to specific cases that may be produced to me, either directly, or through my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Agriculture, would, of course, receive careful consideration.