§ 16. Sir R. COOPERasked the Secretary to the Board of Trade if the negotiations mentioned by his predecessor in office on the 27th March, 1017 (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 202), regarding the pooling of private users' wagons on railways, are yet complete and are the wagons being pooled; whether his attention has been called to complaints by farmers in certain 553 parts of the Kingdom that there is delay in moving seeds, fertilisers, and foodstuffs, while private owners' wagons are standing empty; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Sir A. STANLEYIt is not at present proposed to introduce any general scheme for the common user of all privately-owned railway wagons in England. Other measures to secure the object in view have, however, been taken, and arrangements have recently been made for a large number of such wagons to be taken over for general use. In Scotland it is proposed that a scheme for the common user of privately-owned wagons should be introduced at an early date.
§ Sir R. COOPERWill the right hon. Gentleman say why it should be right to take the step in Scotland and not in England?
Sir A. STANLEYThe conditions in Scotland are totally different from those prevailing in England. There is a very great number of privately-owned wagons in this country, and the difficulties involved in securing the competent direction of these wagons and the repairing of them make it inexpedient to have a scheme of this kind.