asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make an Order reducing the maximum harbour rates payable on fertilisers imported through Cork Harbour to the Dublin rate of 1/4 per ton in view of the fact that the present rate on fertilisers costing from £8 to £10 per ton is 2/9¾d. while the rate on coal costing the same price is only 10?d. per ton.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Harbour Rates on Fertilisers.
As indicated in reply to previous questions, the maximum harbour rates at Cork are fixed by Order, but the harbour commissioners have discretion to charge rates lower than those prescribed in the Order. If it can be shown that the rates charged are, in fact, excessive, it would be a matter for the interests concerned to make their case to the harbour board for a reduction. On the information available to me concerning the financial position of the commissioners, I would not be prepared to reduce present maximum rates without a very full investigation of the position.