To ask the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the London and North Western Railway Company have recently refused to handle pig traffic for Liverpool and Birkenhead, booked from Dublin Port via Holyhead; and, if so, is their action as public carriers legal; also, if he will state the rates (head rate) for live stock from Dublin to Birkenhead as agreed between representatives of the Irish and English live stock traffic Conference, and how the rates at present being charged for pig traffic carried by the British and Irish Shipping Company from the Port of Dublin to Birkenhead (via Holyhead) compare with these rates?
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - IRISH PIG TRAFFIC.
I am informed that the London and North Western Railway Company have refused to accept pig traffic from Dublin for Birkenhead via Holyhead for the reason that there is a direct steamer service to that port. As I am not at present satisfied that the company have a legal right to refuse such traffic, I am communicating with them and will inform the Deputy of the result.
The rates for pig traffic from Dublin to Birkenhead by the two routes mentioned are:—
|
Bacon Pigs |
Pork Pigs |
|||||||
|
Owners' Risk |
Ord'nry |
Owners' Risk |
Ord'nry |
|||||
|
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
s. |
d. |
|
|
London North Western Company |
7 |
2 |
7 |
10 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
|
British and Irish |
||||||||
|
Steam Packet |
||||||||
|
Company |
7 |
0 |
None |
5 |
0 |
None |
The London North Western Company's rates are local and not through rates, so they are not dealt with by the Live Stock Traffic Conference.
The British and Irish Steam Packet Company carries direct from Dublin to Birkenhead, and not via Holyhead.