238 Report on the Fruit Industry. [july, 



introduced by the Midland Railway Company. That sheeted 

 trucks without sheet supporters should never be used. 



21. That it is most desirable that all fruit be consigned at 

 company's risk, and that the so-called owner's risk rates be 

 abolished ; the rates at company's risk being reduced to a, 

 figure approximating to those now in force at owner's risk, 

 but providing the companies with just a sufficient margin for 

 the extra liability incurred. That 5 per cent, would be a fair 

 margin. 



22. That, in the event of owner's risk rates being retained, the 

 liability of the railway companies should not be confined to 

 cases where only wilful misconduct, but to those where culpable 

 negligence, can be proved. 



23. The Committee also suggest that, in view of the recent 

 tendency to combine among the railways, it would be an ad- 

 vantage if the Government were to appoint an official or a 

 Department to watch over the companies' actions, and to report- 

 to Parliament. 



24. That in the case of all serious grievances against the 

 railway companies, growers and merchants should at once send 

 their complaints to the Railway Department of the Board 

 of Trade, and ask them to exercise their powers under the 

 Conciliation Clause of the Act of 1888. 



25. That in years of glut, railway companies should be urged 

 to temporarily lower their rates for fruit, just as excursion 

 passenger fares are lowered on special occasions, and that, if 

 this cannot be done by agreement, it is desirable that the Rail- 

 way and Canal Traffic Act of 1894 should be amended for that 

 purpose. 



26. That jam made wholly or in part from foreign fruit be 

 so labelled. 



27. That the Government should undertake the inspection, 

 of imported fruit and fruit pulp at the ports of entry. 



28. That it would be an advantage to fruit growers and to- 

 the public generally, if the Local Government Board collected 

 statistics of the fruit seized and condemned as unfit for food. 



29. That the present bye-laws for building in country districts 

 be modified so as to allow of the cheaper construction of 

 cottages. 



