§ MR. ALFRED DAVIES (Carmarthen Boroughs)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the fact that the London and North Western Railway Company accept goods carriage forward for delivery to consignees on their line of railway, and deliver the goods charging the amount of the railway carriage to the consignees, and, in the event of their failure to pay such carriage, take legal action to recover I the railway carriage from the senders; and, if so, will he take measures to put a stop to such practices.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I am not sure whether the suggestion of the hon. Member is that railway companies should be debarred from making the ordinary arrangements for the convenience of traders under which goods are accepted "carriage forward," or whether they should be prevented from invoking the assistance of the Courts in enforcing payment of debts. I am not in a position to take any action in either direction. If the legality of any condition upon which goods are accepted for carriage by railway is questioned it is a matter which falls within the jurisdiction of the Courts of Law.