HC Deb 18 February 1915 vol 69 cc1294-5
30. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether certain shipowners whose ships are in the employ of the Admiralty Transport Department have recently held a meeting to demand increased rates for the hire of those ships; whether he is aware that. Lord Inchcape, the chairman of the Arbitration Committee, in delivering his award determining the rates of payment, said that he trusted that the shipowners would not look upon the rates as a minimum on which increases might be built; whether any and all additional working expenses are to be charged to the Government by specified prearrangement; and whether the shipowners mentioned are basing their demands for advances, ranging from 25 per cent. to 40 per cent., upon the claim that others are doing much better in the open market?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Lord Inchcape was chairman of certain sub-committees of the Arbitration Board, which, on 22nd October last, reported to Lord Mersey, President of the Admiralty Transport Board of Arbitration, for his information and advice, the basis, general scale, or rate at which payment to owners of ships requisitioned for Government service should be assessed. In forwarding these recommendations of the sub-committees to the President, Lord Inchcape made the statement referred to. The sub-committees recommended that the owners should be indemnified against any extraordinary out - of - pocket expenses arising out of the requisition. The rates suggested to us on 22nd October as equitable by Lord Inchcape's sub-committee have been agreed to by the shipowners for the period from the date of requisition down to 31st December last. Many, indeed, have agreed to the rates in question for the whole period of chartering, however long. But it is the fact that a very large section of the shipowners are asking higher rates to meet altered circumstances since 1st January. The whole matter of these requests is at this moment the subject of careful consideration by the Board.

Mr. LOUGH

Will my right hon. Friend say whether any suggestion was made as to the freights to be charged for the interned ships?

Dr. MACNAMARA

That, I think, is another question, of which I should like to have notice.