In a recent session of the Irish Railway Commission chaired by Sir Charles Scott, notable testimony was presented by Mr W. L. Stokes, a Limerick trader and Irish manager of the Wholesale Co-operative Society. The focus of his discourse centered on the intricate issue of rates for transporting commodities such as butter, eggs, and sausages to England.
Stokes revealed that, in dealings with articles dispatched to England, they encountered a conspicuous absence of through rates with the North-Eastern system of England. Despite concerted efforts, including collabouration with the Great Southern and Western Company and the Waterford Steamship Company, the traders faced a roadblock beyond Leeds, unable to secure through rates. This predicament starkly contrasted with the advantageous position of a Birmingham-based sausage firm, enjoying through rates from its location to various towns in both England and Ireland.
During the proceedings, Mr Balfour Browne clarified that the rates in question pertained to the different places involved rather than the connection between them. Stokes further lamented the lack of through rates on the North Stafford line, emphasizing the difficulties faced by Irish traders compared to their English counterparts.
In addition to the rate quandary, Stokes highlighted the pressing issue of handling eggs on Irish railways. The fragility of eggs in transit posed a substantial challenge, with breakages often exceeding general estimates. Stokes expressed concern that, in cases containing 700 eggs, up to 250 were frequently found broken. The railway companies invoked the “owners’ risk” arrangement as a shield, prompting Stokes’s firm in Manchester to contemplate legal action, arguing that negligence was a significant factor. This issue, while not impeding the overall growth of the egg trade, nevertheless cast a shadow on its potential expansion.
Responding to queries from Lord Pirrie, Stokes disclosed that, due to customer demands, his company found it imperative to import butter from Denmark during the winter. This practice was facilitated through the central office in Manchester.
Morning Post – Monday 07 January 1907
