§ 38. Mr. ATKEYasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Great Central Railway Company have advised Messrs. Cooper and Roe, Limited, of Nottingham, that on and after 1st December they can only accept consignments of hosiery packed in parcels at owner's risk and upon an undertaking that no claims will be made for pilferage; and that Messrs. Cooper and Roe, Limited, have had to resort to this method of dispatch owing to the difficulty in obtaining returned supplies; and, in view of the inability of the Great Central Railway Company to detect the thieves who from 1st April to 30th November have stolen 72 packages of hosiery to the value of £140 16s. 10d., will he take steps to remove this grievance?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe railway companies are entitled to insist on packages being properly packed. Alternatively, the packages must travel at owner's risk I am inquiring into the circumstances of the case.
§ Mr. ATKEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, owing to the way in which goods generally are now being handled by the railway officials, it is becoming compulsory on the part of many firms to insure the whole of their goods in transit?
§ Sir E. GEDDESNo, Sir, I am not aware of it.