§ 19. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether he is aware that all cargo, including provisions carried on Government account from the United States and Canada to the United Kingdom in vessels under liner requisition, is charged a freight of 40s. per ton and wheat about 42s. per ton, and that commercial cargo for civilian consumption is carried in the same ship at rates of freight ranging from 260s. to 320s. per ton and cotton at about 470s. per ton; and whether he can state the reason for this discrimination?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYThe rates referred to on cargo carried on Government account, which occupies 85 per cent. or more of the cargo space in vessels from the United States and Canada to the United Kingdom were designed to be the equivalent of Blue Book rates of freight. These rates are at present under revision in view of increased running costs. The rates of freight on commercial cargo occupying the balance of cargo space are, and must continue to be for reasons which I have previously explained in the House, determined by ordinary commercial practice.
§ Mr. HOUSTONBut why should these rates be maintained if the rates on Government cargo can be increased, with the result that the people of this country are paying through the nose for their food?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYAs I have informed the hon. Gentleman again and again, our endeavour is to square accounts in this matter to the best of our 1817 ability, and in the freights which are now being determined it is our honest and specific purpose to endeavour to pay our way—that, and no other.
§ Mr. HOLTAssuming, as the hon. Gentleman has told us that 40s. or 50s. will square the accounts of the Government, why is it necessary to charge 260s.?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYAs I have explained to my hon. Friend if, in these specific cases, these commercial transactions, we carried goods at cost price, the British consumer—as my hon. Friend knows very well—would not obtain the advantage of that cost price; it is, therefore, our duty to see that such freights are charged as shall not merely take money from the shipowner, and money out of the pockets of the Government, to put into the pockets of private interests.
§ Mr. HOLTDo we now understand that it is the policy of the Shipping Controller to make as large a profit as he possibly can out of every commercial transaction?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYNo, Sir; that is not the policy. The hon. Gentleman has had the advantage of privately seeing a full statement of our policy, and he knows that that is not the case.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf the hon. Gentleman tells us that the general public do not get advantage of this cost price, what is the use of the Government putting control on our other resources while not preventing these people who come in between the consumer of the goods and those who carry them, and so prevent us from getting that advantage?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI think my hon. Friend can hardly be aware of the fact that nearly the whole of the cargoes that come to this country are under Government control, and are carried at cost price, therefore the consumer on the whole obtains the advantage of the Blue Book rates on goods carried at cost price.
§ Mr. HOUSTONHow is it—[HON. MEMBERS: " Order, order."] Do hon. Members opposite wish to live in a fool's paradise?