§ 98. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the President of the Board of Trade if traders in Belfast are still unable to get goods of which they are in urgent need forwarded from England in consequence of the refusal of railway companies to accept goods for conveyance to Belfast; if he can now state that so far as the Belfast and Hey-sham route is concerned no traffic is being refused on account of the absence of steamer room or for any other reason; how many vessels formerly employed on the Heysham and Fleetwood routes are now laid up; and if the Board of Trade has taken any steps to bring about a settlement of the dispute which was the cause of the dislocation of traffic between England and Belfast?
Mr. HARCOURTI have made further inquiries in this matter, and am informed that, while there is still some restriction upon the forwarding of traffic by the Belfast and Heysham route, this is to a large extent only nominal, and generally speaking it is found practicable to take any traffic that is offered for conveyance. One boat is out of commission on this route. It is hoped that a resumption of the full service may shortly be arranged. 850 On the Fleetwood route two boats are employed on the service, and, as the hon. Baronet was informed on the 22nd June, they are able to cope with the traffic.