§ MR. O'SHAUGHNESSYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state what are the statutory powers possessed by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland to deal with railway rates on agricultural produce.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe Department has no power to deal with railway rates, but under Section 17 of the Agriculture and Technical Instruction Act, 1899, it is empowered to appear as complainant on behalf of any person aggrieved in reference to matters which the Railway and Canal Commissioners have jurisdiction to hear and determine.
§ MR. FIELDHas the Irish Agricultural Department ever yet appeared as a complainant in any one of these cases?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI am under the impression that the Department is now taking action in one case. The hon. Member is aware that it can only act on the specific complaint of the party aggrieved.