§ SIR ALFRED HICKMAN (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that British shippers have entered into a combination to keep up the freights on British goods, while goods from foreign ports are subject to open competition, and that consequently freights on British produce are in excess of those charged on foreign goods; and if the Select Committee on Shipping Subsidies will not have power to inquire into these matters, whether he will enlarge their powers to enable them to do so.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThere are arrangements among the shipping lines trading to the East and to the Cape for the regulation of freights, and statements have been made from time to time that they have an injurious effect on British trade. I do not think it expedient to alter the terms of reference to the Select Committee on Shipping Subsidies, which I hope will be shortly re-appointed, but I note that this Committee received evidence during last session with regard to the matters to which the Question relates.
§ SIR ALFRED HICKMANCannot the right hon. Gentleman arrange for a separate Inquiry on the point?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am far from desiring to minimise the importance of the point, but I think it would be desirable to see what is the evidence collected by the Committee already appointed before we embark on another Inquiry. I do not by any means shut the door on such an Inquiry should the necessity for it be demonstrated.
§ MR. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S. W.). Will the right hon. Gentleman put down the Motion for the re-appointment of the Committee in Government time?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, the Committee will have to be put down in Government time, and I hope to take an early opportunity of doing so.