§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Great Southern and Western Railway Company of Ireland, in spite of the fact that the Great Northern Company of Ireland charge reduced rates on unsold agricultural implements passing from one agricultural show in Ireland to another, insist upon payment of full rates, to the disadvantage of Irish agriculturists; and whether he is prepared to use his influence to put an end to this treatment in the interests of agriculture.
1450 (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question of 9th July last,† in which the practice as to the rates charged for agricultural implements unsold and passing from one show to another in Ireland was explained. The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction are given to understand that the practice in this respect is the same on the Great Northern Railway of Ireland as on the Great Southern and Western Railway, with one exception, viz., as between Dublin and Belfast, in which case a reduced rate is charged. It may be that the sea competition between Dublin and Belfast had some influence in the arrangement of this rate. If any aggrieved person should make representation to the Department in a specific case they will have the matter fully investigated.