§ 37. Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the 1730 Shipping Controller if he is charging 120s. per ton freight on coal out to Argentina and only about 57s. per ton on wheat home; if he has received any representations from the Argentina railway companies regarding the former charge; whether the freight on coal out is usually very much lower than the freight on wheat home; and whether he will reconsider the rates with a view to a just apportionment?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRI of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)The freight charged on wheat which, as in the case of all Government cargoes, is based on cost of running at Blue Book rates, is not 57s. but 100s. There, is, therefore, not the wide discrepancy which my hon. Friend had supposed between that rate and the rate on coal outwards. Moreover, as the latter is a commercial rate arranged with the railway coal pool, no comparison could, I think, properly be made between the two, and it is not proposed to make any change.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONDoes the hon. Gentlernan suggest that because the rates are accepted they are therefore justified when they are accepted under compulsion, and, furthermore, if it is to cheapen food why does he fix the rate at its present rate?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYAs I have tried to explain to the House before, the rates on Government cargoes are purely cost rates, and, moreover, they are discounted by any receipts from voyages out. Bf my hon. Friend will confer with me privately I think lie will find that is the case.