§ Mr. DELANYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that by public notice the Great Southern and Western Railway Company (Ireland) have announced their intention of increasing 344W the through rates of freight between stations on their system and certain centres in this country by as much as. 50 per cent. in some instances; whether he is aware that the rate for oats from Mountmellick to Liverpool, heretofore 12s. 6d. per ton, has been raised, under the new order, to 18s. 4d.; whether, under the Amalgamation Act of 1898, the Great. Southern and Western Railway Company were debarred from raising their through freights without the sanction of the Railway and Canal Commissioners; and can he say what steps the Board of Trade are prepared to take to compel this company to observe the terms of the undertaking which they gave when the Amalgamation Act was passing through Parliament?
Mr. RUNCIMANI have received a copy of the notice in question. There is no general provision in the Amalgamation Acts, to which the hon. Member refers, against the increase of through rates, though the railway company may not, without the consent of the Railway and Canal Commissioners, increase the actual rates on their railways. The present increases are stated to be due to an increase in the amount charged by the shipping companies for the sea portion of the route, and the Board of Trade have no jurisdiction in the matter.