§ 41. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether Messrs. Spillers and Baker, of Cardiff, when supplying Kerry traders with flour, recently charged freight from Cardiff to Cork by their own steamers 50 per cent. higher than ordinary rates; whether, under those circumstances, flour cost Kerry traders at least 52s. per sack, and had to be sold at this price; and whether Messrs. Spillers and Baker will be asked to refund this overcharge, which is at least 16s. per ton?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD (Mr. Clynes)Consignments of flour for Kerry are normally shipped by the Fishguard-Ross-lair route at a through rate of 34s, 10d, a ton. In order to meet an urgent demand for supplies in excess of the quantity which could be sent by this route, a steamer was specially chartered at the current rate for flour, namely, 30s. a ton; the additional charges for marine and war risk and insurance and port dues, haulage charges, and railway freight made the total cost of delivery 44s. 10d. a ton.