§ SIR WILLIAM TOMLINSON (Preston)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take with reference to the statement made to him by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, that they have chartered their steam vessel "Altona" for hire from Goole to a port not within the limits of The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company (Steam Vessels) Act,1904, for the compelling that company to desist from exceeding the powers conferred upon them by Parliament.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BONAR LAW, Glasgow, Blackfriars)I am not prepared to agree in the suggestion of my hon. friend that the railway company have necessarily exceeded their powers under the Act of 1904 by chartering one of their vessels to an outsider, neither is it clear that keeping the vessel laid up would be obviously in the public interest. The Board of Trade do not propose to take any action.
§ SIR WILLIAM TOMLINSONMay I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is aware that traders engaged in the coasting trade look with the gravest apprehension on what they regard as the unfair competition of the railway companies in making use of the Parliamentary powers beyond the prescribed limits?
§ MR. BONAR LAWI am not at all aware of it. I should be surprised if it is so.
§ SIR WILLIAM TOMLINSONI can tell the hon. Gentleman it is.