asked the President whether he is aware that the establishment of direct steamship services between Ireland and Manchester is primarily a question of Irish interests; whether the Irish Government as a Government has made representations to the British Government as to the importance and urgency of giving through rates via Manchester, and, if so, with what result; whether he is aware that the present system of charging the same rates in England for short haulage as for long haulage, with a view to forcing traffic by particular routes, is a violation of the English Railways Act, which requires the rates to be fixed on a basis consonant with the economical earning of dividends; whether the attention of the British Government has been called to that fact, and also to the fact that the preferential rates now in operation in Great Britain are prejudicial to Irish interests; and whether similar representations have been made by the Government officially to the British Railway Companies, and, if so, with what result.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - THROUGH RATES VIA MAN CHESTER.
The Government has not made any representations to the British Government on this matter, as the British Government has no power to grant through rates. The obligations of the railways in Great Britain in the matter of through rates depend on the Railways Act, 1921, which established a Railway Rates Tribunal, before which proceedings can be taken at the instance of traders affected in disputes with the railway companies as to rates. It would obviously not be proper for me to express any opinion as to whether the English Railway Companies are violating the English Railways Act, but if they are, I am advised that traders prejudicially affected have the right to resort to the Railway Rates Tribunal.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has been in communication with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company, which is the company concerned in Manchester traffic, and has represented the importance to Irish cross-Channel trade of facilitating traffic via Manchester. A definite reply has not yet been received, but the company is known to be considering the matter.