28. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the railway charges falling on agricultural produce; and, if so, whether he is in a position to make any proposals which might result in lower charges and better transport facilities for the most perishable articles concerned?
Mr. GUINNESSI would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that the Railway Rates Tribunal was set up under the Railways Act, 1921, to deal with such questions as railway charges for agricultural produce. I understand that agricultural interests were represented and heard by the Tribunal in connection with the proceedings precedent to the fixing of the new charges which come into force on 1st January, 1928. If my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind any particular directions in which he considers transport facilities might be 968 reasonably improved, I would suggest that he should send particulars to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, as I have no statutory power in matters of this kind.