§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the preferential rates in favour of the foreign produce on the Great Eastern Railway are, for cabbages packed from Rotterdam to London, less sea freight, 5s. 10d. and from Harwich to London, 8s. 9d.; and, seeing that the freights for carrots packed and for onions from Rotterdam to London and from Harwich to London are in similar proportions, whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to stop these differential charges against the British farmer.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, Sir; I have no information showing that the rates are as stated by my hon. and gallant friend, and the Railway Company, with whom I have been in communication, deny that such rates are in force for foreign produce. Apart from the legal remedy in any proved case of differentiation against British producers provided by the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, the Board of Trade are always willing, at the instance of a 170 trader, to make inquiries into any specific complaint lodged with them under Section 31 of the same Act.
§ MAJOR RASCHWill the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with his colleagues to get a Commission appointed to inquire into these differential rates?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe law provides a remedy. Specific complaints can be laid before the Board of Trade.
§ MAJOR RASCHThat is what I have done.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNo, this is not a specific complaint; it is a general statement.
§ A further question by Mr. James Lowther (Kent, Thanet) was inaudible.