§ 30. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has inquired into the conduct of the Northshore Mills, Liverpool, in refusing to sell flour to merchants in the West of Ireland because of the disturbed state of the country; whether it is intended to prosecute them for this refusal; and whether they will be allowed to exercise such prejudice in trade in the future?
§ Mr. CLYNESI find that the North-shore Mill Company have not refused to sell flour to merchants in the West of Ireland, but owing to the disturbed state of 460 the country and the difficulty of getting their money, the company decided to insist on cash before delivery. In spite of this, their actual deliveries in Ireland for 1917 were considerably greater than in the previous year.
§ 39. Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether Messrs. Spiller and Baker will be prosecuted for the freights they charged on flour brought by their own boats from Cardiff to Cork; and whether they will be compelled to return to traders whom they supplied in Kerry the overcharges which they made?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Sir Leo Chiozza Money)I am not aware that the firm referred to has been guilty of any breach of regulation. I recently informed my hon. Friend that the matter of freights involved was having the attention of the Shipping Controller. I am now able to tell him that a maximum freight for flour to Irish ports was established on 1st March.