a 904-] 



Railway Rates. 



77 



respect to it, and that steps should be taken to secure full com- 

 pliance therewith. 



4. Provision of Special Waggons, or Waggons suitable for 

 particular Classes of Traffic. 



Lord Onslow notes that this question is receiving the con- 

 sideration of the Companies, and he would be obliged if he 

 might be informed so soon as practicable of the conclusions 

 arrived at respecting it. He would also be glad if the Companies 

 would give their consideration to the question of the carriage of 

 calves, where they are accepted for carriage by passenger train, 

 with a view to fixing some scale so that the charges made should 

 bear some proportion to the weight of the animal in every case. 



5. Local Conferences. 



Lord Onslow is glad that the Railway Companies concur 

 with him in the view that conference between agriculturists 

 and representatives of the Companies and of this Department 

 would often be the means of removing misconception and of 

 promoting friendly relations between the various interests con- 

 cerned. Instructions will be issued to the Inspectors of the 

 Board to place themselves from time to time in communication 

 with the Companies where there is reason to believe that a local 

 conference would be of value. The Board have now at their 

 disposal ample means of obtaining through their local agricul- 

 tural correspondents information as to the existence of com- 

 plaints as to rates and facilities, and they agree that it would 

 be useful that the Companies should be furnished with particu- 

 lars of any such complaints before a meeting is arranged and 

 held. 



6. Issue of Information and Advice. 



Lord Onslow is obliged by your reply to his observations on 

 this point. He proposes shortly to publish in a Parliamentary 

 Paper, as an Appendix to the correspondence which has taken 

 place, particulars of the conditions and rates prescribed by the 

 principal Companies for the conveyance of farm, dairy, and 

 market garden produce at reduced charges. Additional publicity 

 will thus be secured for the arrangements which the Companies 



