Final Report of the Royal Commission Appointed to Inquire Into the Depression of Trade and Industry; With Minutes of Evidence and Appendices (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 Excerpt: ...he gave to Kentish hops. This was a great subject of complaint, and it has been done away with, either by raising the rate on foreign hops or by lowering the rate on English hops; the consequence is that the railway no longer favours foreign hops, and Sir Edward Watkin tells us that the result is that foreign hops go now cheaper than ever by sea to London. I say that it needs such a great authority as Sir Edward Watkin to satisfy me that the abolition of one competitive route lessens the charge on another. It is sufficient for my purpose to know that they do go to London by sea as cheaply as they used to go by railway, and that, so far as competition goes, the Kentish hop-owner gets no benefit from the equalisation of rate. 14,994. Mr. Muntz.) Might not Sir Edward Watkin's statement be taken as accurate, in consequence of the development of steamers?--Then in o 24357. that case the steamers would have brought down the Sir T. Fairer. railway rate equally, which is quite possible, only I do not think that it can be in consequence of the 6 Aug. 1886. abolition of a competitive route. 14,995. (Mr. Aird.) Will you now take the case of fruit from France?--Fruit and vegetables come to us from Italy, and from the South of France for exactly the same sum; not the same mileage rate, but the same sum for which they are carried to Paris. If that were done away with it might be a good thing for the vegetable gardens of Kent and Sussex, and the North of France; but it would be a bad thing for London. Then there is the case which has been very much complained of, of American meat and provisions from Liverpool. Before all the Commissions and Committees there has been a complaint that foreign consignments of meat are charged 25s. a ton to London, and that homo consignments ...