§ MR. M'GOVERN (Cavan, W)To ask the President of the Board of Trade, can he state what is the rate per ton for the carriage of grain, flour, and dead meat from Chicago and New York to Liverpool; what is the rate per ton for grain, flour, and dead meat from Liverpool to Belfast and from Belfast to Liverpool; and has the Board of Trade any power to prevent English or Irish railways carrying American or Russian produce at a cheaper rate than is charged to English and Irish producers for the same distance.
(Answer.) Such unofficial information as to freights as is in my possession shows that the through rates per ton from Chicago to Liverpool for the articles named are at present approximately as follows—wheat 15s., flour 22s., dead meat (salted or preserved) 35s., fresh or refrigerated meat about £9. The corresponding rates from New York are—wheat 5s., flour 7s. 6d., and salt meat 10s. No rates are quoted for fresh meat from New York. The rates between Liverpool and Belfast are—grain 2s. 6d., flour 3s. to 5s., according to quantity, salt meat 2s. 6d., fresh meat (by daily express) 15s. The jurisdiction to deal with cases of undue preference on English and Irish railways rests with the Railway and Canal Commissioners, and not with the Board of Trade.—(Board of Trade.)