§ 40. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the country millers suffer a disadvantage as against port millers in respect of railway rebate preferences on the article they handle; and whether, with the object of maintaining country milling in the essential agricultural districts, he will investigate the facts and take steps to ensure equal treatment to both classes of traders?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir John Gilmour)The possibility of inland millers suffering some disadvantage as compared with those having mills at ports, as a consequence of the railway rebates being given on certain agricultural traffics, has been raised from time to time since the scheme first came into operation on the passing of the Local Government Act, 1929, and I understand that one of the principal trade organisations concerned is endeavouring to obtain particulars of the extent of the alleged hardship. I would, however, remind my hon. Friend that while it is of course necessary to have regard to the interests of all concerned, the main consideration in determining the particular traffics to receive the benefit of these rebates has been the general interests of agriculture. Any revision of the list of selected traffics would, in any event, require fresh legislation.