§ Mr. CAUTLEYasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that under the new rates for the carriage of poultry the railway rates for stock birds are double those for table birds, and that, in the case of injury caused by the negligence of the railway companies servants, the compensation payable is limited to 5s. per bird of either class; and whether he will arrange new rates for carriage and compensation more fairly proportionate to the service rendered and the values of the birds carried?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe present arrangements in regard to this traffic, which I consider to be reasonable, are as follows: Poultry for consumption and prize poultry to and from shows are carried by passenger train at Company's risk at the same rate. In both cases compensation is limited to 5s. per bird, but for more valuable birds insurance can be effected at the rate of 1¼ per cent. Table poultry (live or dead) can be conveyed at owner's risk, in which case a lower scale of rates is charged.