§ 50. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Sir Charles Fielding, the new Director of Food Production, is director of the Rio Tin to Company, which is interested in chemical manures and declared a dividend 1536 for 1917 of 95 per cent. on ordinary shares after allocating large sums as reserves; whether Sir Charles Fielding held any office at the Ministry of Munitions or other Government Department during 1917; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, it is proposed to continue his appointment as Director of Food Production?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Prothero)Sir Charles Fielding is a director of the Rio Tinto Company. The company supplies the English Government and the Allies with pyrites at pre-war prices, and to some slight extent pyrites enter into the manufacture of chemical manures, and otherwise the company is in no way interested in such manures. The company did declare a dividend of 95 per cent. for 1917, but this rate was less than in pre-war periods. The company made its profits almost entirely from copper mining. Sir Charles Fielding was chairman of the Economy of Metals and Materials Committee of the Ministry of Munitions in 1917, besides serving on other Government Committees. He left the Ministry of Munitions, at the request of the Minister of Reconstruction, to become one of the chiefs of staff of that Ministry. Sir Charles Fielding's powers of organisation, business experience, and financial ability will, it is hoped, be of great service to the Board, and I propose to continue his appointment as the unpaid Director-General of the Food Production Department.