Railway Rates. 



practically a non-competitive scale as compared with the railway 

 rates. 



" With reference to the foregoing points, Mr. Hanbury desires 

 me to say that he understands that if the railway companies own 

 lines of steamships they must, in certain cases at any rate, 

 distinguish the sea from the land charges ; and that he would 

 be glad to learn (i) whether such an obligation is imposed upon 

 all railway companies by a general statute, or whether it is to 

 be found only in the private Acts of particular companies ; and 

 (2) whether, in cases where this requirement exists, the railway 

 company is only bound to show the land and sea charges 

 separately when requested by the payer of the charges to 

 do so. 



" Mr. Hanbury also wishes me to enquire whether, in cases 

 where the railway company does not own any ships, but charges 

 a through rate from foreign ports, the company is bound to 

 make the same charge in respect of the land transit as if the 

 goods had started from the British port and there had been no 

 carriage by sea at all. 



"With regard to the alleged agreements between the railway 

 and canal companies in the neighbourhood of Hull, Mr. Hanbury 

 would be glad to know whether the Board of Trade have any 

 official knowledge of any such arrangements. 

 " I am, Sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



"(Signed.) T. H. Elliott, 



" Secretary." 



II. 



From the Secretary, Board of Trade, to the Secretary, Board 



of Agriculture. 



" 25/// fune, 1902. 

 "SIR, — In reply to your letter of the 1 8th instant on the 

 subject of a complaint made against the railway companies 

 by the Hull and District Fruit Buyers' Association, Limited, I 

 am directed by the Board of Trade to state that under the 

 provisions of Sections 14 and 33 (5) of the Railway and Canal 

 Traffic Acts, 1873 and 1888, respectively, railway companies 

 which earn- merchandise partly by land and partly by sea aro 



