§ 39. Mr. TURTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a German baron called Schroeder, naturalised since the commencement of the War, has for the past three years been in the habit of receiving immense consignments of coal for his house and gardens at Englefield Green, a large portion being consigned in the name of his gardener, Shill, prior to the War called Schiller; whether, in April of this year, Baron Schroeder received at Egham Station 120 tons of anthracite coal from Swansea and 7 tons of household coal from the Brodsworth Collieries, near Doncaster; whether the total consignments so received from April, 1917, to April, 1918, amounted to not less than 520 tons of anthracite coal and 105 tons of household coal; and, if so, whether, having regard to the coal shortage and the difficulty of railway transport, he will direct the Coal Controller that this German baron shall not be given undue preference over loyal and patriotic Englishmen?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe facts are substantially as stated by the hon. Member, but it may be added that the quantity of household coal constitues the supply for two large houses and eleven cottages, and that as Englefield Green is outside the area covered by the coal rationing scheme information on this subject was not brought to the notice of the Coal Controller until recently. As soon as the information was received the case was investigated, and all supplies of coal were suspended some weeks ago.
§ Mr. TURTONAre not the eleven cottages the hon. Gentleman refers to gardeners' cottages inhabited by gardeners in the employ of this German baron, and are they not strictly rationed to less than 1 ton per annum?
§ Mr. WARDLEI cannot answer that.
§ General Sir IVOR PHILIPPSHave steps been taken to remove the excess coal of this German coal hoarder, and, if not, what steps do the Government propose to take in the matter?
§ Mr. WARDLESteps have been taken not to supply any more until it is absolutely necessary.
§ Sir I. PHILIPPSBut not to remove the coal already there?
§ Mr. WARDLEI will make inquiries.
§ Sir I. PHILIPPSAnd to prosecute him?
§ Mr. TURTONIs it not a fact that 200 tons of anthracite are still hoarded on this German baron's estate?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe hon. Member seems to possess all this information. I do not know anything about it except what is in the question. I will make inquiries.
§ Sir I. PHILIPPSHas not the hon. Gentleman power to prosecute this German baron for hoarding coal?
§ Mr. WARDLEI do not think so, because the coal ration did not apply to this particular district.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWill the hon. Gentleman consult the Law Officers in order to ensure a prosecution, if it be possible, in what seems to be a very gross case?
§ Mr. WARDLEI will certainly do that.