HC Deb 15 December 1927 vol 211 cc2497-8
64. Mr. CRAWFURD

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that trade between this country and certain South American ports is penalised through the preferential rates granted to foreign European ports; and whether he proposes to take any action?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)

I am informed that the general policy of the British companies interested in shipping from Continental ports is to secure that the Conference rates thence to the South American ports are the same as those from England. But the position, as has been previously explained, is that a rate war is in force from Continental ports, and as a result it is the fact that in a number of cases lower rates are quoted from those ports than from England. There is no action that can usefully be taken by the Government in the matter.

Mr. CRAWFURD

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that trade between this country and the River Plate ports is being definitely lost owing to the differential shipping rates, and will he not cause some inquiry to be made to see if British shipping lines cannot treat their own countrymen at least as favourably as they treat foreigners?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

Inquiry has been made, and any answer I have given has been as the result of those inquiries. Certainly, there is no action which His Majesty's Government can take which would prevent foreign shipping companies entering into a rate war on the Continent, and I do not think it would be wise for His Majesty's Government to prevent British shipping companies competing with foreign shipowners in such a war.

Mr. CRAWFURD

If I furnish the right hon. Gentleman with specific cases where British companies have differentiated against their own countrymen, will he inquire into the matter and see if anything can be done?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

I shall be delighted to deal with any specific cases, but I have inquired into a number, and the whole policy of the conference lines is to try to get the same rates from British ports as from foreign ports.