§ MR. REDDY (King's Co., Birr)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the members of the Birr No. 1 District Council have protested against the proposed raising of rates on the canal and railway systems as being prejudicial to business and farming and other interests; and, seeing that the action of the railway and canal companies in Ireland in this respect is at variance with the practice of similar companies in America, Australia, and other countries where railways carry farm produce at low rates, whether he intends to take any action in the matter.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe District Council have protested against the application to be made by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company to the Railway Commissioners for their consent to increased rates. It has already been stated that the Department of Agriculture will appear before the Railway Commissioners on behalf of aggrieved persons, and that the application will be heard after Easter.