§ 55. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if the steam- 557 Ship "Kerman" is now loading on the berth in the United Kingdom a cargo of general merchandise for the Persian Gulf for the owner's benefit, instead of being used in the nation's interest at Blue Book rates; whether the owners or the loading brokers, F. G. Strick and Company, Baltic House, E.C., obtained the licence for this voyage; and, if the latter, will he say if it was obtained through the same channel as this firm obtained licences last autumn for carrying dates by their steamers from the Persian Gulf to New York, namely, through their clerk in the Requisitioning Department of the Admiralty, by name, O'Neill?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As my hon. Friend was informed when he asked a similar question in November last, his insinuation is baseless. The steamship "Kerman" is owned not by Messrs. F. C. Strick and Company but by the Anglo-Persian Company, in which the Government has a large financial interest. She loads out stores for the company; her employment is obviously in the national interest, and she sailed under a licence properly given by our Ship-Licensing Committee. Mr. O'Neill has no connection with the Ship-Licensing Committee, but gives valuable services in an honorary capacity to the requisitioning branch of the Ministry of Shipping. I am sure that my hon. Friend will now realise that he has been misled into making a charge which is entirely without foundation.