§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he can hold out any hope of legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Majority Report of the Royal Commission on Canals and Inland Navigations during this Session of Parliament; and (2) whether, in view of the fact that the Report of the Departmental Committee on Railway Agreements and Amalgamations is generally favourable to the elimination of such relics of competition as exists between the railway companies, he proposes to incorporate in any Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee at least the principal recommendations of the Royal Commission on Canals and Inland Navigations, 1905–11, and thus afford some support and relief to traders?
Mr. BUXTONI do not think it will be practicable to deal with canals and waterways in the Railways Bill, which I hope to introduce shortly, and I fear that I am unable to hold out any prospect of legislation on the subject during the present Session.
§ Mr. PETOIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that water carriage is the only really effective competition, with the railway companies in this country?
§ Mr. SNOWDENHas the Board of Trade given any consideration at all to the Report of this Commission?
Mr. BUXTONWe are considering it very carefully, but it involves very large proposals, and I see no prospect at all events of dealing with them in the course of the present Session.
§ Mr. PETOIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the enormous development of inland waterways in Germany has been of incalculable advantage to German, trade, and will he bear in mind—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman is now making a speech.