§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that in January last the corporation of Glasgow gave him (the President) an undertaking that the charges for cattle landing at Merklands would not exceed 2s. 6d. per head; whether, after giving this undertaking, they continued to charge 3s. per beast; and whether he will state what steps he is going to take to compel the corporation to refund the excess charges levied from owners of live stock and arrange that the amounts overcharged to importers subsequent to the date of his announcement will be returned?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say that any undertaking was given as suggested in the hon. Member's question. On the 31st January last the corporation of Glasgow submitted, and the Board provisionally approved a rate of 2s. 6d. per head for Irish cattle detained in the lairages at Merklands Wharf, but the corporation did not bring that rate into force, and continued to charge at the rate of 3s. per head. The Board have no power to compel the corporation to refund any excessive charges which may have been made.