§ 64. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether evidence has been submitted to him showing that the present tonnage measurements tend to discourage the use of Diesel machinery through the increased cargo space being to a large extent neutralised by increased tonnage dues; and whether he proposes to take any action to meet this objection?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Burton Chadwick)The suggestion made in the Question has been put forward on more than one occasion, and has been examined by the Board of Trade. The conclusion come to was that there is no evidence that the tonnage measurement rules discourage the use of internal combustion engines, and the probability is that a comprehensive revision of those rules would produce a result which on balance would be lees favourable to that type of engine.