§ 73. Mr. TICKLERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has been informed that at a recent representative meeting of the fishing industry, convened by the National Sea Fisheries Protection Association, a resolution was passed stating that representations should be made to the Board of Trade and the Food Controller to press upon the railway companies the importance of providing, as far as possible, cheaper rates and more rapid transit for the carriage of fish and the withdrawal of the owners' risk note, and resolving that in the meantime the trade should be advised not to sign the owners' risk note; and whether he will state what the Board propose to do in the matter, particularly with respect to the railway companies' risk note?
§ Mr. WARDLEI have received a copy of the resolution referred to. I do not think that there is any prospect that a general reduction of the rates in force for the conveyance of fish can be made, but if particulars of cases of serious delay to fish traffic are supplied to me I shall be happy to consider them. The question of the owners' risk note was considered by the Railway Conference which was constituted in 1908, and I would refer the hon. Gentleman to their Report (Command Number 4,677 of 1909). It is, of course, open to the traders to consign their traffic at company's risk.