§ 30. Lieutenant-Colonel GAULTasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the Local Government (Derating) Act, 1929, port millers are enabled to obtain a railway rebate on all milled products delivered to inland customers, whereas inland millers are not entitled to any countervailing relief on grain brought by rail from the port to their inland mills, thus placing them at a financial disadvantage as compared with the port miller; and whether he will consider introducing amending legislation to rectify this?
Mr. STANLEYThe rebates allowed from railway carriage charges on certain agricultural traffics were designed to benefit farmers, and the traffics concerned were selected after consultation with associations representing the farmers. I am aware that the inland millers contend that the rebates place them at a disadvantage in competing with mills situated at the ports, but neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, whom I have consulted, are in possession of information which indicates that amending legislation would be justified.
§ Lieut.-Colonel GAULTIs the hon. Gentleman prepared to receive a deputation from the millers and thus give them an opportunity of putting this matter before him in detail?
Mr. STANLEYI shall always be ready to hear any representations which my hon. and gallant Friend has to put before me, but I would like him to consider whether it would be worth the while of the millers to send a deputation, in view of the fact that I see no possibility of legislation at present.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESIs it not a well-known fact that the inland millers are at a great disadvantage in this respect, as compared with the port millers?
§ Lieut.-Colonel GAULTIn view of the fact that these millers are suffering under an injustice in the matter, could not my hon. Friend give further consideration to their position?