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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cent., and that, as regards small fruit, there has been an increase within 

 the last seven years from 69,792 acres to 77,947 acres, or 11 per cent. 



By that Committee a good deal of evidence was taken respecting the 

 railway grievances of growers, and certain conclusions were arrived at. 



Respecting those conclusions, there can be no doubt that a revision of 

 the existing working classification would be advantageous. There is 

 nothing to prevent the railway companies from making such an altera- 

 tion, provided that they keep within the limits imposed by their Acts of 

 Parliament. A revision of the working classification might be discussed, 

 and possibly effected by means of meetings between representative fruit 

 growers and the managers of the railway companies. This course of 

 action was adopted with considerable advantage in the case of the Rail- 

 way Rates Inquiry, when the existing statutory classification was settled. 



In respect of any points which could not be mutually agreed upon, the 

 assistance of the Board of Trade, or Board of Agriculture, or both Depart- 

 ments might be invoked. 



For encouraging the development of fruit culture, it is necessary not 

 only to have ihe lowest possible transport rates, but also the utmost 

 facilities for ensuring prompt delivery (at all events of the more perishable 

 fruits). 



As regards rates, it is doubtful whether the abolition of " owner's risk 

 rates " would be satisfactory to the growers generally. There appears to be 

 no reason why the growers should not have the alternative of two rates, 

 provided that the rates at company's risk are reasonable in the interests 

 not only of the company but of the growers, and that, if the railway 

 companies adhered to the present "owner's risk" conditions, provision 

 should be made for ensuring that in all cases a full and proper abatement 

 was made. 



As regards claims relating to goods sent at " owner's risk," the railway 

 companies may be within their rights in combining to resist such claims, 

 but that combination should not provide, as it does at present, for the 

 total rejection of such claims without inquiry into their merits. There 

 must be many cases in which loss or damage is caused by, and is known 

 by the railway companies to be caused by, the wilful misconduct of their 

 servants ; and if they were to meet such claims fairly, they would be likely 

 to gain more in the long run than they would lose. 



Another grievance (which is forming the subject of inquiry elsewhere) 

 is the preference given by the railway companies to foreign produce. 

 It could not be denied that, while they had been spending enormous sums 

 of money in providing steamers, and docks for their accommodation, for 

 the purpose of developing the importation of foreign produce, they had 

 not gone out of their way to encourage any branch of home agricultural 

 traffic. If the companies would adopt similar tactics with reference to 

 the fruit industry, they would find their reward, and the growers and 

 consumers also would benefit. 



There have been signs within the last few years that the companies 

 have been rather more ready to recognise the claims of the traffic in home 

 produce, and, if they are sincere in their professions, the principal 

 grievances of the growers may be remedied. However that may be, they 

 cannot complain if, in view of their closer combination and of the 



