§ 19. Mr. WILESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if his attention has been called to the fact that some of the steamships of the Elders and Fyffe line from the West Indies are arriving at British ports with part cargoes of bananas and other native fruits; and, if so, will he state whether there is any 756 Government Regulation which prevents the shipment of full cargoes of valuable fruit, which is needed so badly for food at the present time?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYThe answer to the first part of the question, if my hon. Friend means that the ships in question are not fully loaded, is, I am glad to inform him, in the negative. All spaces fitted for the carriage of fruit have been filled, the rest of the space being used for general cargo. Only three of Messrs. Elders and Fyffe's ships are at present being employed to carry fruit at all, the rest having been diverted to employment of greater national importance.