33. Sir WALTER RUNCIMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, in the specification for what is called the new standardised cargo vessel, bronze propellers are being prescribed, although bronze and its constituent metals are scarce and expensive, and the cost of a bronze propeller is nearly £2,000 more than a steel or cast-iron propeller; whether the advantage in speed from the use of bronze is a mere fraction of a knot; whether, in case of accident, these bronze propellers can be easily replaced; and whether the Shipping Controller was advised by specialists in tramp shipbuilding to prescribe for these bronze propellers or by specialists in liner building?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYBronze propellers were not prescribed in the original specification for the first type of standard vessels, but, after the vessels had been commenced, conditions occurred in connection with the submarine menace which made it necessary to adopt bronze propellers as part of an arrangement to make sure of a certain speed. Cast-iron propellers are specified for the spare propellers for these ships and also for the propellers of the later types of standard ships. In these matters the Shipping Controller was advised by specialists in tramp shipbuilding.
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYIf my right hon. Friend will look at the names of the Advisory Committee, he will see the names of Mr. Marr, Mr. Henderson, and other experts.
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYYes, my right hon. Friend will find they were consulted.
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYThe increase in speed is about a quarter of a knot, and, although that does not seem much, we are faced with circumstances where we think it necessary to get every possible increase of speed. If on trial of these vessels the bronze propeller is found to be an unnecessary luxury it will be dispensed with.
34. Sir W. RUNCIMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether any of the shipbuilders are undertaking to complete a new standardised vessel in four months from the laying of the keel-plates, a rate maintained for years past in tramp-shipbuilding yards on the Wear and Tyne?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYNo, Sir. Shipbuilders are not undertaking, under present conditions as regards labour and materials, to build the new standard ships in four months from the laying of the keel. If such an undertaking were ever given for such a steamer as the largest type of standard vessel, the conditions prevailing must have been very different from those which obtain at the present time.
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI am sure my right hon. Friend will agree with me on reflection that it is not desirable to enter on minute details of this kind. I should like to add this: My right hon. Friend the Shipping Controller will be very glad to have the advice of my right hon. Friend in this matter if he will be good enough to give it privately.
35. Sir W. RUNCIMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether what is called the new standardised cargo vessel is to be fitted 200 with Howden's forced draught and correspondingly smaller boilers instead of rather larger boilers and natural draught; and whether this was adopted on the-advice of builders of liners or on the-advice of builders of tramps?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYYes, Sir; the standard cargo vessels are being fitted with forced draught to meet the present needs. This is in accordance with the advice of builders of tramp steamers.
36. Sir W. RUNCIMANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the advisory committee of shipbuilders advising the Shipping Controller on standardised cargovessels consists, with one exception, of builders of the liner type rather than what is called the cargo tramp- type; and whether Mr. Marr, the only member of the committee with experience of tramp building, has through illness been unable to attend all the committee meetings and the standardised type has therefore been arrived at by gentlemen with experience of the more expensive liner rather than the more economical cargo vessel?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYThe Shipbuilding Advisory Committee to the Shipping Controller is representative of shipbuilding and marine engineering. Mr. Marr is not the only member of the Committee with experience of tramp shipbuilding, and during his enforced absence from meetings of the Committee through illness, he was represented by his co-director in the same business. It is not the fact that the types of standard ships have been arrived at by gentlemen with experience of the liner rather than the tramp steamer. Besides the members of the Committee, specialists in designing and building the types adopted were consulted as well as various shipowners.
§ 37. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller how many steamers belonging to or under Government control have been placed under the management or direction of Messrs. Furness, Withy and Company from August. 1914, to 15th March, 1917 and will he state what are the terras, it any, of their remuneration for management and what commissions if any, they have received during this period for chartering?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYDurin the period August, 1914, to 15th March 201 1917, many neutral vessels have been time chartered by Messrs. Furness, Withy and Company, Limited, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, and of these a number have been placed under the management or direction of Messrs. Furness, Withy without remuneration to them. No commissions have been paid by the Government to Messrs. Furness, Withy for chartering or other services, and the commissions received by the company from the foreign owners have been credited by them to His Majesty's Government. I am glad that this question has been asked, as it enables me to tender thanks to Messrs Furness, Withy and Company, Limited, for their ungrudging and invaluable services.
§ 38. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller how many steamers have been purchased by or through Messrs. Furness, Withy, and Company for or on behalf of the Government from foreign owners since 4th August, 1914, to 15th March, 1917; and will he state the total amount of brokerages or commissions received by Messrs Furness, Withy, and Company during this period, either from the owners of these steamers or from the Government?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYCertain steamships have been purchased by Messrs. Furness, Withy, and Company, Limited, on behalf of His Majesty's Government from foreigners, during the period 4th August, 1914, to 14th March, 1917. No commission has been paid by the Government to Messrs. Furness, Withy for their services, and where the company have received a commission from the foreign owners or builders it has been repaid by them to the Government in reduction of the purchase price of the Vessels. It is not considered advisable at the present time to state the exact number of ships which have been purchased through Messrs. Furness. With and Company on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. WATTCan the hon. Gentleman say if Messrs. Furness, Withy, and Company have been given a licence to purchase vessels—a licence given to no other person?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYNo; the hon. Member is entirely misinformed. When Messrs. Furness, Withy, and Company purchase vessels they do so under the direct instructions of the Shipping 202 Controller. Another firm, I may add, have done more purchasing for us than Messrs. Furness, Withy have been employed to do.