asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state the reason for not publishing and circulating a verbatim report of the proceedings of the Railway Tribunal dealing with the classification of merchandise; whether this is not a departure from the procedure adopted in the case of similar bodies dealing with such matters previous to the coming into operation of the Railways Act, 1924; whether, in view of the importance of the proceedings to the trading public and to the railway companies concerned and their officials, he will consider the advisability of making arrangements for the preparation and publication of such a report.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PUBLICATION OF RAILWAY TRIBUNAL PROCEEDINGS (CLASSIFICATION OF MERCHANDISE).
If the question is based on the assumption that the British Rates Advisory Committee which dealt with the British Railway Classification published and circulated a verbatim report of its proceedings, the assumption is not correct. The report of the detailed consideration of that classification was taken down and published by the Railway Companies and the Traders Committee jointly at their own expense.
Ample notice has been given to all parties interested of the consideration of the classification for the Great Southern Railways, so that they may follow the proceedings if they so desire, but the publication of the proceedings would involve considerable expense which, in my view, would not be justified. Any interested party can obtain a copy of such shorthand notes as are taken for the Tribunal's own information, on paying the cost thereof.