§ 41. Mr. WADDINGTONasked the President of the Board of Trade the names of any associations of shippers and merchants which are registered with his Department for negotiating with the shipping conference lines; and how many of such associations have been set up since the Report of the Royal Commission on Shipping Rings, 1909?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKAssociations of shippers and merchants are in existence, some of which, I understand, negotiate from time to time with shipping conferences; but no such association is registered with the Board of Trade for the purpose.
§ Mr. WADDINGTONIs the hon. Member aware that one of the recommendations was that the Board of Trade should register these associations, and has the Board of Trade taken any steps in the matter?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKCertainly. These associations are not registered with the Board of Trade, but it is purely a matter for negotiation between the shipping interests and the association of shippers.
§ Colonel DAYDoes the hon. Member not think that these conferences are an interference with legitimate trade?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKNo. On the other hand—I must not embark on a discussion of the subject—I think the tendency is in the other direction, and that they facilitate trade.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESI desire to give notice, as the Board of Trade Vote is down for consideration to-day, that I propose to raise this question, and I hope the lion. Member will be here to answer it.