§ 17. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the announcement by the Irish railway companies of an increase in freight charges amounting to about 5 per cent.; whether, seeing that under the Act of 1911 an increase of freight charges is justifiable only in the case of railway companies to cover an increase in the wages of their employés, the employés of any or all of the Irish railway companies have received an increase of wages; if so, will he state the name or names of the companies and the amount of the increase in the case of each of them; whether he is aware that the proposed increase in freight rates is regarded as a menace to Irish industries; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in this matter?
Mr. BUXTONCertain Irish railway companies have given notice of their intention to increase their rates, the amount of the increase being about 4 per cent. The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1913, to which my hon. Friend no doubt refers, does not apply to Ireland, and if the increase is challenged before the Railway and Canal Commission, the companies would have to justify it under the Act of 1894. Any complaint under that Act must first be made to, and considered by, the Board of Trade, and as the question would therefore come before the Department in the ordinary course, I do not propose to take any action at present.