CONFERENCE ON FRUIT GROWING. 



67 



should be power to re-classify any article. If an article has got into 

 the wrong class, or some great invention or alteration in trade or 

 agriculture produces an article in great quantities, surely there ought to 

 be some power to get it re-classified ; then there should be power on the 

 part of the railway companies to temporarily lower rates in the case of 

 merchandise. I think they want that power ; and that they should have 

 the power, when the time comes, to raise the rate again. 



Then comes the last point. I think it should have very careful con- 

 sideration, as at the present time it is a very doubtful one : I mean the 

 question of concerted action. Personally, I don't like trammelling 

 combination ; and you can combine if the railway companies combine, and 

 if you are entitled to reasonable rates you can get your decisions. At the 

 same time, I know some traders feel strongly that they do not like to 

 combine ; but if, whether combined or not, all should be governed by a 

 series of fair and clear legal enactments, and those enactments should 

 be dealt with in the courts cheaply and expeditiously. There have been 

 many suggestions as to tribunals, and I always come back in my experience 

 that it is much more expensive and troublesome, and does not suit 

 traders so well, to have commissions and other special tribunals as it 

 does to have clear law on which to get a simple case fought in the courts ; 

 but the law must be clearly enacted by Parliament, and then let the 

 traders have their Federations and Associations, and let these bodies 

 look after their interests. This will save money in the end, and, although 

 I honestly confess it is not so good for the lawyers, it is the better way 

 of doing good to the railway companies and their shareholders as well 

 as the traders and the community ; only better defined law and a simple 

 and cheap procedure in the courts are vital. 



Mr. Robert Piper (Worthing) : You will be convinced, after the 

 speeches that have been made, that we growers have some grievances 

 against the railway companies. Railway managers think the interests of 

 their companies and the interests of the growers are opposed. I am sure 

 that that view is altogether wrong. I believe the interests of the 

 companies and the interests of the growers run on parallel lines, and if the 

 companies would only give us lower rates and greater facilities they would 

 find that instead of the amount in their exchequer being lessened it would 

 be increased. It is no use going to them for concessions unless you can 

 show them that it will put money in their own pockets. Some time ago, 

 a deputation was sent to Sir Allen Sarle from the Worthing fruit-growers, 

 to ask that a reduction should be made in the rate for cucumbers from the 

 Worthing district. We were then paying 40s. a ton for grapes, and 35s. 

 a ton for cucumbers. The deputation asked that the 35s. should be 

 reduced to 20s. He said, " You are not asking much ! " and that he could 

 not make the concession. One of the speakers then used this argument, 

 and it prevailed : " I am putting up some new glasshouses in Worthing. I 

 can grow in these houses grapes or cucumbers. If I grow grapes I shall 

 be sending 25 tons of grapes from them when fully matured. Twenty- 

 five tons of grapes at £2 a ton will be £50 in your pockets. If I grow 

 cucumbers, I shall at once begin to grow 500 tons, which at £1 a ton will 

 be £500 in your pocket, instead of £50. Besides, I shall want more 

 manure, more fuel, and other things. Now what is it to be?" Sir 



F 2 



