MR. BRYNMOR JONES (Swansea District)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the Board recently received a deputation appointed by the Swansea and District Freighters' Association, and that the members of the deputation complained that the Great Western Railway Company had, for some time, carried coal to Swansea for shipment and for patent-fuel making at 6½d. a ton less than they charged for coal carried by them for use in manufactories and works in Swansea and the Swansea Valley, and delivered by them at Swansea Valley Junction, Landore, and Swansea, and alleged that the said railway company have been guilty of an undue preference under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, the Board will, in accordance with the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, Section 31, Sub-section (4), forthwith submit to Parliament a Report of the complaints made by the deputation and the result of the proceedings taken in relation to such complaints, together with such observations as the Board thinks fit to make thereon.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BONAR LAW, Glasgow, Blackfriars)The Reports which the Board of Trade have submitted to Parliament under Section 31 of the Act of 1888 have as a rule covered the complaints made during some period of time—in ordinary course another Report will be issued next year; it has not been the practice of the Department to present a special Report on a particular case, and I do not think it would be a convenient course to adopt. I may say that the Board used their best endeavours to bring about an amicable settlement of the complaint referred to, but unfortunately without success. As the allegation is one of undue preference the complainants would appear to have a remedy at law. More than this could not be said if the Department made a special Report.
MR. BRYNMOR JONESWill the hon. Gentleman allow the deputation to have a copy of the transcript of the shorthand note taken at the interview.