§ 16. Rear-Admiral ADAIRasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Act of Parliament 59 Geo. III., c. 25, of 8th April, 1819, relating to freight was abrogated by the Order in Council of 26th October, 1914; whether as a fact, since the date of the Order in Council, any freight has been paid to the Admiralty or to any persons such as are referred to in the Act of Parliament; and, if so, whether the Greenwich Hospital Funds have received any and what proportion of it?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Act of 1819 provided for the payment of freight for the conveyance of treasure in His Majesty's ships to be regulated by Order in Council, and Orders in Council regulating the payment of freight were made under the Act from time to time. In 1914 it was considered desirable that this system of payment should be terminated, and the Order in Council then in force was, therefore, annulled. Since the date of that Order in Council freight has been received, amounting to £1,753,150, and of this sum £15,500 has been credited to Greenwich Hospital Funds. The remainder has been taken in charge and used as an Appropriation in Aid of Navy Votes (Vote 11, Z.Z.) Since the date of the Order in Council of 26th October, 1914, freight has not been payable to the persons referred to in the Act, and has not been paid.
§ Rear-Admiral ADAIRIs the officer in command of a vessel carrying freight still liable to law if he loses that freight?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should like to have notice of that question.