§ MR. MURPHY (Kerry, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company issue railway tickets at preferential rates to visitors at their own hotels in Killarney and else-where; whether he is also aware that the servants and officials of the company's hotels are allowed special privileges at the railway stations on lines on which baronial guarantees are paid by the ratepayers; and if he proposes to take any 528 steps to prevent this preferential treatment and allow free trade in the interests of the travelling public.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. KEARLEY,) DevonportMy right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question, which appears to refer to the issue by the company of combined railway and hotel tickets, and to the exclusive admission of the company's servants on railway platforms. The company informs me that they have not strictly enforced the latter practice. The question whether undue preference within the meaning of the Railway Traffic Acts is created by the action of the railway company is a legal question on which I can express no opinion.