§ Mr. ROWNTREEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) whether his attention has been called to the development of agricultural light railways in Belgium and other countries since 1886; whether he will be prepared to appoint a small committee to report as to what steps it would be necessary to take to establish 193 in this country an effective system of agricultural light railways; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the small development of agricultural light railways under the Light Railways Act of 1896, and whether the Commissioners appointed under that Act have reported to him as to the causes of the comparative failure of the Act to develop agricultural light railways in this country?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The Board of Trade are fully acquainted with the position of light railways in Belgium, and I do not think that the appointment of a Committee such as that suggested by my hon. Friend would serve any very useful purpose. The Light Railway Commissioners have from time to time in their annual reports referred to the question of the comparatively slow development of agricultural light railways in this country, and I hope that the Light Railways Bill which I introduced last week will facilitate the promotion of light railway undertakings.