§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that it is alleged that through bookings from many places in Ireland viâ Dublin are refused, and that through bookings are accepted viâ other ports; and will he explain why this state of affairs is permitted, and whether the local rates from Dublin are higher than the through rates?
Mr. RUNCIMANI understand that in the case of live stock (to which I presume my hon. Friend refers) through bookings viâ Dublin are suspended for the present. The Great Southern and Western Railway Company inform me that the shipping com-170W panies do not consider it practicable to restore these bookings as yet, and the Board of Trade have no compulsory powers in the matter. I cannot say how the through rates compare with the local rates.