§ MR. WATT (Glasgow, College)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which exists in the fruit and vegetable trades with regard to the excessive rates charged by railway companies on such goods; and if, in view of the fact that these rates were originally framed when this traffic was much smaller than it is today, he will take steps to bring about a reclassification of the existing rates.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE, Carnarvon Boroughs)Complaints of this nature were brought to my notice some months ago by a deputation of traders who undertook to supply me with a statement of facts giving particular instances of the grievances in question. They have not yet supplied me with these facts, but when they do so I will gladly endeavour to bring about a conference between the representatives of the traders and the railway companies to discuss the matter.