HC Deb 11 December 1911 vol 32 cc1903-4
Mr. CRUMLEY

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause inquiry to be made as to the loss sustained by Irish dealers in live stock owing to the pooling arrangements entered into by Irish railway companies and cross-Channel steamship companies?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)

I have received no complaints in this matter, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any cases of hardship I shall be happy to ask for the observations of the railway companies concerned.

Mr. CRUMLEY

Can the hon. Gentleman not get the information from the Railway Clearing House, and is it not the fact that throughout Ireland people in business were in the habit of getting rebates which have now been taken from them by this pooling arrangement?

Mr. ROBERTSON

I do not know whether that is a fact, but inquiries will be made, if the Board think it is proper to address them, to the Irish railway companies.

Mr. CRUMLEY

I can give every evidence of it.