§ 40. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether it is with the sanction of his Department that railway companies are now, for the first time, declining to carry cows and their calves, or calves and pigs, in the same wagon or the same part thereof; and, owing to their frequent inability to provide wagons with partitions, are insisting upon farmers and small holders chartering large wagons for small consignments of stock, thereby increasing their railway charges by 50 per cent.; and whether he has sanctioned this new railway policy?
Mr. BUXTONThe Regulation under which the railway companies are acting in this matter was, as has been explained to the hon. Member, made by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and did not require the sanction of the Board of Trade. I am not aware that there is a scarcity of wagons with movable partitions, but I may point out that under the Order mixed consignments of cows and calves or calves and pigs must be loaded on both sides of the partition, and thus make use of the whole wagon. I have received a letter from the Great Western Railway Company on the subject of a somewhat similar question which the hon. Member put on Thursday last, and I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Board of Agriculture has so far in this House disclaimed any responsibility for this new railway policy?
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTThey have not admitted it.