HC Deb 07 April 1919 vol 114 cc1667-8
80. Sir EDGAR JONES

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller what was the total tonnage of shipments from Java to this country in 1916, 1917, and 1918, respectively; and what explanation has he to offer for the failure to provide tonnage in 1918 as compared with the two previous years?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel L. Wilson)

The imports from Java to this country in tons weight during the three years were as follows:

1916 445,000
1917 395,000
1918 190,000
The remoteness of Java, the nature of its products, and exchange considerations account for and fully justify the progressive reduction.