§ Sir M. MACDONALDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that the Scottish railway companies propose to increase the railway rates for home timber on 1st January next; and will he use his influence to prevent this being done, as it is a matter of great consequence, to the Highlands in particular, that home products should not be penalised to the advantage of the foreign importer?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYI have been in communication with the Scottish railway. companies, who inform me that the position in this matter is that they granted special rate concessions to the home trade timber associations as a temporary arrangement to apply from the period 1st September to the 31st December, 1922, and that they cannot agree to extend the arrangement beyond the latter date, but will revert to the rates previously in force.