51. Mr. W. A. REDMONDasked the right hon. Gentleman whether the Irish railway companies are prepared to accept a distinguishing mark and the name and station of destination on packages of butter and eggs in lieu of the proposed full name and address of the consignee, as the British railway companies have already expressed their willingness to do; and, if not, whether he will immediately urge them to do so in the interest of this Irish industry?
§ 52. Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the right hon. Gentleman if his attention has been called to the fact that chambers of commerce in Ireland have protested against the new Regulations of British and Irish railway companies requiring that all goods consigned by rail, with certain exceptions, shall in future be fully addressed; if the Irish railway companies are prepared to accept a distinguishing mark and the name of the station of destination as sufficient; if these regulations apply to foreign imports as well as to home produce; and if he will take action to induce the railway companies to withdraw these Regulations, which are opposed to the interests of Irish traders and exporters?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I have communicated with the Irish Railway Clearing House on the points raised, and will inform the hon. Members of the result in due course.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman give a promise to use his influence to get the railway companies to reconsider the question, and is he aware that the Regulations, which I understand will come into force to-morrow, will enable the railway companies to greatly increase the charges on Irish produce and compel shippers to give the names of their customers to their competitors?
§ Mr. BUXTONI must wait until I hear from the railway companies before I reply to that question.
Mr. W. A. REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman, pending the decision of the railway companies, withhold the right of the railway companies to insist upon these Regulations being carried out?
§ Mr. BUXTONI have no such power as that.
54. Mr. W. A. REDMONDasked the right hon Gentleman whether the shippers of Irish produce have the strongest objection to placing the name of the station or the destination on the address cards of packages, as it would expose their trade almost the same as if the address were put in full; and whether, in view of this fact, he will urge that the new rules laid down by the British and Irish railway companies be so altered as to leave unaffected the custom in regard to this matter which has existed for the last forty years?
§ Mr. BUXTONAs I have already stated, I am in communication with the Irish Railway Clearing House on the subject. I presume that the traders affected have made representations to the companies on their own behalf.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYWill the right hon. Gentleman press the railway companies to withhold or delay enforcing these regulations for, say, a month or two, to give the public an opportunity of expressing their opinion upon the matter?
§ Mr. BUXTONI will consider that. I am afraid I have no power to do so. I may make representations. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will communicate with me?