18. Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade what was approximately the loss sustained by British shipping owing to the late strike in Australia, involving British ships alone; and, seeing that owing to this strike a large amount of freight from Australia was transferred to foreign ships manned by crews receiving rates of pay some 50 per cent. lower than those paid on British ships, does the Government propose to take any action against the persons in this country who were concerned in the organising of this strike?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am afraid it would not be possible to frame 2078 any useful official estimate of the loss sustained by British shipping owing to the late strike in Australia. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
Sir F. HALLIs it not the case that a lot of these goods were eventually brought by ships which were paying much lower rates to the men employed than the rates paid under the British flag?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes; I think that is quite true.