§ MR. CHAPLIN (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he has yet ascertained whether any and, if so, what representations have been made by the Board of Agriculture to the Board of Trade on the subject of preferential railway rates; and, if such communications have been made, whether he intends to make any representations to the railway companies concerned on the subject.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)Since I replied to a question on the subject of preferential railway rates for agricultural produce put to me on the 3rd June last,‡by the hon. Member for the Spalding Division of Lincolnshire, I find that the Board of Trade received a letter from the Board of Agriculture dated June 18th, dealing with such rates, and asking for certain information principally upon points of law. The Board of Trade replied on the 25th of the same month giving the information desired. I have not received from the Board of Agriculture any instances of
†See page 8.‡See (4) Debates, cvii., 1278.467 alleged preferential rates given to imported traffic which could be used for the purposes of such an inquiry as that desired by the hon. Member for the Spalding Division, or in regard to which the Board of Trade have been asked to exercise their powers under Section 31 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888. I may perhaps take this opportunity of explaining that the apparent difference between the statements made last Wednesday in the debate on the Board of Trade Vote, by myself and my right hon. friend the President of the Board of Agriculture, whose illness we all so much regret, really arose out of a misunderstanding. I had in my mind the reference by the Board of Agriculture to the Board of Trade of complaints by traders on which the Board of Agriculture desired us to take action under Section 31 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act. There have been no such cases. But, on the other hand, my right hon. friend was correct in saying that a certain number of complaints of excessive rates, as distinct from preferential rates, have been forwarded by him to the Board, with a view to obtaining information. This information was supplied in every case by the Board of Trade, and, in some instances, after communication with the railway companies. The Board have not been asked to take any further action.