Captain MORRISON-BELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether 752W he is aware that road material is of less value in proportion to the carriage charged on it than any other goods sent in bulk, and that in consequence the 4 per cent. increase in the rates for consignment by rail constitutes an excessive charge on the selling value of the material and in many instances exceeds the margin of profit available; and, if so, whether his Department will put pressure upon the railway companies to ensure that their rates shall be based more largely upon the value of the goods carried rather than on their weight?
Mr. BUXTONRoad metal is of less value per ton than most articles carried by rail, and, consequently, the rates for carriage bear a high proportion to the value of the traffic. Stone and other materials for the repair of roads are, however, already included in the lowest class of the classification of traffic. I am afraid that a proposal to chargead valorem rates for carriage of goods by rail would not be very popular with the trading community.