§ COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he can say in how many cases vessels engaged in carrying horses and mules to South Africa made more than one voyage with this kind of freight, and whether on the second and subsequent voyages, if any, a reduction was made on the rate of freight charged for the first voyage, in which was included a sum sufficient to clear first cost of fittings.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)Most of the vessels employed as freight ships in carrying horses and mules to South Africa have made several voyages. The engagements in all cases are made by competitive tender, and the question of whether new fittings have, or have not, to be provided would naturally be an important factor in fixing the rate at which the owner tenders. I may add that it is not always the case that a ship once fitted for this service can be tendered again ready fitted, as in not infrequent instances the fittings have to be entirely destroyed at the conclusion of a voyage, to avoid infection.