HC Deb 04 May 1916 vol 82 cc116-7
29. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the misunderstanding in France and Italy regarding freights charged by British shipowners and the comments on British shipowners and the British Government in a section of the Italian Press, he will deal officially and authoritatively with this, matter?

Mr. PRETYMAN

Steps are being taken to deal with this matter.

Mr. HOGGE

What steps?

Mr. PRETYMAN

I must have notice of that question. [Hon. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] The steps which are being taken are steps for securing a certain measure of publicity.

Mr. PRINGLE

In Italy and France?

Mr. PRETYMAN

Neutral and Allied countries may be under a false impression as to what this country is doing, and steps are being taken to remove that impression as far as possible.

Mr. HOUSTON

Has the President of the Board of Trade already gone across to the Continent to deal with this matter?

Mr. PRETYMAN

There has been a conference on the question. That conference was private, but certain steps are being taken to give publicity. Naturally, in a matter of this kind, we must be extremely careful exactly what statements are made and what statements are not made.

30. Mr. HOUSTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a number of British steamers have been requisitioned at Blue Book rates to carry oats and other cereals to Italian ports, while numbers of neutral steamers have been chartered to bring wheat and other cereals to this country at current market rates; and whether he can state the highest rates at which Greek steamers have been chartered to carry wheat from the Argentine to English Channel ports?

Mr. PRETYMAN

I understand that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question. The highest rates, of which official information has been received, paid to Greek steamers for grain from the Argentine to the United Kingdom are 170s. from San Lorenzo, and 167s. 6d. from Buenos Aires.

Mr. HOUSTON

Is my hon. Friend not aware that the Greek steamer "Drakatos" was yesterday fixed at 172s. 6d., United Kingdom basis?

Mr. FLAVIN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware, when he quotes 170s. a ton for Indian corn in English ports, that the actual freight charged is more than the cost of a ton of corn free on board in the Argentine?

Mr. PRETYMAN

I am afraid that is so.