asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can state (a) the classes of goods in respect of which preferential rates have been granted by the Great Southern Railways Company, and (b) the number of cases in which preferential rates have obtained during the years 1942 and 1943.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Preferential Railway Rates.
The Great Southern Railways Company do not admit that any of their rates have been or are preferential in the sense of giving an undue preference contrary to law. The exceptional rates below the class or standard rates, to which presumably the Deputy refers, have always existed in large numbers. They formerly applied to particular commodities between particular pairs of stations. As from the 1st July, 1943, they have been replaced by exceptional mileage scales applicable to particular commodities throughout the company's system.
The exceptional rates owed their existence to the fact that formal classifications of merchandise and formal scales of rates were frequently found to be too rigid for commercial development of business. Local conditions of industry or trade or competition in carrying were found to need varieties of treatment to enable the traffic to travel by railway. The system grew, however, to the extent that exceptional rates applied to about 80 per cent. of the total traffic. They were not confined to particular classes of goods. The new scales are designed to remove the anomalies and quasi-preferences involved, and apply to about 65 main descriptions of traffic.
The exceptional rates and scales have always been available for public inspection in the rate books required to be kept under Section 48 of the Railways Act, 1924, which is proposed to be re-enacted and amplified by Section 103 of the Transport Bill.
Could the Minister say if preferential rates are granted in respect of cows going to the Roscrea factory?
I could not.