§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that the authorities at Merklands, Glasgow, have, without the approval of his Department, insisted upon charging 818W 3s. per head on 175,448 Irish cattle landed there between the 8th July last and the 19th April, involving a total payment of over £26,000; are the services rendered at Merklands in all respects the same as are rendered by the authorities at Birkenhead for a charge of 1s. per head; and, if so, whether he intends taking steps to have the large sum overcharged, fully £17,000, repaid without delay?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWith regard to the first part of the question the facts are as stated by me in my answers to questions addressed to me on Wednesday last. The services rendered by the Glasgow Corporation in providing a landing place for Irish animals are not, for the purposes of the question of reasonable charges, identical with those rendered by the authorities at Birkenhead. Repayment of any overcharges which may have been made by the Glasgow Corporation could be enforced only by the persons overcharged, and the Board cannot intervene.