§ MR. LOUIS SINCLAIR (Essex, Romford)I beg to ask the Secretary to the
† See (4) Debates, cl., 619.86 Board of Trade whether he has taken steps to check the misstatements made to him by the Great Eastern Railway Company to the effect that they have no through rate for pianos from Germany to Cardiff, having regard to the fact that Messrs. Thompson & Shackell, pianoforte dealers, of Cardiff, hold a consignment note which shows they were charged a rate of 43s. 4d. per ton for conveyance of a piano weighing 7 cwts. 7 lbs. from Germany to Cardiff; and whether, seeing that the rate charged to the same firm by the London and North-Western Railway Company for conveying a piano weighing 5 cwts. 2 qrs. from London to Cardiff was 57s. 9d. per ton, and also that Messrs. Flint Brothers, Limited, of Cardiff, have been charged a rate of 46s. 8d, per ton for the conveyance of fifteen casks of butter weighing 15 cwts. 3 qrs. from Parkeston to Cardiff, whereas the through rate from Rotterdam to Cardiff is only 43s. 4d. per ton, he will also grant an inquiry into the question of railway rates as operating to the advantage of the foreign trader in regard to all goods and merchandise not comprised in the inquiry already prosecuted by the Board of Agriculture.
§ MR. BONAR LAWThe Board of Trade are in communication with the Great Eastern Railway Company on the subject of the rates to which my hon. friend refers. I may point out that the question of the rates on butter from Parkeston and Rotterdam to Cardiff might have been dealt with by the Committee appointed by the Board of Agriculture had it been brought before them, and the Board of Trade will await the Report of this Committee before considering whether any further inquiry is necessary.