§ MR. BELLAIRS (Lynn Regis)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the conditions attaching to a subsidy in Germany for a steamship line prohibit any change in the rate of freight without the consent of the Imperial Chancellor, and in Austria without the consent of the Minister of Commerce; and whether any steps are to be taken in regard to all future subsidies to prevent the undue raising of freights against British traders and any action in restriction of trade.
938 (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I am aware that the subsidies granted to certain steamship lines in Germany and Austria have been subject to the condition stated. Payments made to British steamship companies by His Majesty's Government are, generally speaking, payments for services rendered, and their amount would presumably have to be increased if the regulation of freight rates were made an invariable condition. I will consider whether any steps are necessary with regard to the matter when the Royal Commission on Shipping Rings and Conferences has issued its Report.
§ MR. BELLAIRSTo ask the President of the Board of Trade in reference to the subsidy agreement of the Cunard Steamship Company of 30th July, 1903, under Part I., Article (5), to carry on its business to the best advantage, not unduly to raise the freights or charges for the carriage of goods in any of its services, and to give no undue preference as against British subjects, what check the Board of Trade are able to impose to see that the agreement is carried out in spirit as well as in letter; whether any conflict of opinion has yet arisen; and whether similar conditions have been imposed in the case of any other subsidy.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Board of Trade carefully investigate any complaints made to them with regard to the freight rates charged by the Cunard Steamship Company, and if there should in any case be reason to suppose that the rate was unduly raised or gave an undue preference as against British subjects the matter would be taken up with the company. There has been no conflict of opinion with regard to this matter between the Board and the company. Conditions regulating to some extent rates of freight are to be found in the contract of 19th April, 1900, with Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company for a steamship service between Jamaica and the United Kingdom (Cd. 175), and in the contract of 29th August, 1907, with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company with respect to the West Indian Inter-Colonial mail service (Parliamentary Paper, No. 24). I understand that the Post Office mail contracts with the 939 Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company contain clauses prohibiting undue preference being given as against British subjects. The Board have no reason to think that the Cunard Company have not fully complied with the provisions of the agreement both in spirit and letter.
§ MR. BELLAIRSTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Annual Report on the Straits Settlements for the year 1907, and to pages 48 and 49, dealing with the effect on trade due to the action of shipping conferences and the hardships inflicted on British tramp steamers and sailing vessels, which have been almost entirely driven out of a trade in which they used largely to participate; and whether, in the event of no legislation being contemplated by the Government next year in reference to shipping rings and conferences, the Government will consider the advisability of holding a conference, in which the self-governing Colonies and the Dependencies of the Empire may participate, to consider whether it is advisable to strengthen the law in regard to combinations in restraint of free trade or to take any other action.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) My attention has been called to the Report to which my hon. friend refers. The whole question of shipping rings and conferences is at present being inquired into by a Royal Commission. The Report of the Commission will, I understand, be issued shortly, and the advisability of legislative or other action dealing with this subject will then be considered.