§ Sir WALTER MENZIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the trader can only appeal to the Railway Commissioners when a railway company proposes to increase rates, he will propose such legislation as will enable a trader to appeal to the Commissioners for a reduction of existing rates, which, in his opinion, and in new circumstances which may have arisen, are excessive and a hindrance to legitimate trade?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWhatever be the merits of the suggestion of my hon. Friend, its adoption would obviously involve a new departure of a serious kind, as it would virtually make the Railway and Canal Commission a rate-fixing authority within the Limits of the maxima prescribed by Parliament I do not think that the propriety of such legislation can be satisfactorily discussed in an answer to a question, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the Board of Trade are fully alive both to the importance and the complexity of the whole matter, and that his suggestion will be duly noted.