11. Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that congestion in the port of Liverpool has greatly increased, and that on 27th February not less than fifty steamers were waiting for berths in the Liverpool docks; whether he can state the cause of the increased congestion; whether he is aware that many steamers, 1124 after completing the loading of their outward cargoes, have been prevented from sailing for several days owing to their inability to load bunker coal and are still being delayed; whether this state of affairs is due to the refusal of men to work notwithstanding they have been granted an increase of wages equal to 6s. per week; whether he is aware that steamers in Government employment and wanted for military purposes have been detained in Liverpool through their inability to obtain coal and have consequently been diverted to other ports for this purpose, thereby causing disorganisation and delay; and whether the Government propose to take measures to remedy this state of affairs and prevent its recurrence.
Mr. RUNCIMANI am informed by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board that there has recently been some increase of congestion in the port of Liverpool, and some delay in the shipping of bunker coal, and that this was due partly to a difficulty as regards the terms of employment of the coal heavers, which I am glad to say has now been overcome owing in large measure to the patriotic appeals of my hon. Friend the Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool and the Trades Union leaders, and that the men returned to work on Friday last. I trust, therefore, that occasion will not arise for exceptional measures by the Government.
§ 13. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that several large steamers owned by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which prior to the War were employed in the South American trade, have for a considerable time past been laid up in the port of Liverpool and elsewhere, notwithstanding the need for steamers to carry food-stuffs to this country and the rate of freights obtainable from the Argentine; and whether he can state why these steamers are not employed?
Mr. RUNCIMANI am informed by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company that two of their vessels, which are probably the ships referred to in the question, are unemployed at present, owing to the fact that they were designed largely for the carriage of passengers, and in view of the almost entire cessation of the passenger traffic to and from South America, it would not be possible at the current rate of freight for meat to employ them in this trade without serious loss.