§ 6. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that all the British steamship lines engaged in the East African trade have agreed to the proposals of the Shipping Conference that they should impose a special surcharge of 5s. per bill-of-lading ton upon all goods shipped by British steamers; whether the German and Dutch lines are free from this surcharge; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to relieve British trade from this burden imposed upon it by an international body?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. I am informed that when goods are shipped from East Africa for continental destinations by British steamship lines which are sailing direct to the continent, no extra charge is made. The British lines charge the extra 5s. per ton on goods shipped for continental destinations only when transhipment between this country and the continent is involved, and the 5s. per ton is charged to recoup them to some extent for the cost of transhipment. If cargo destined for Great Britain is shipped by foreign lines which are proceeding to the continent so that transhipment from the continent to Great Britain is involved, the foreign lines similarly charge 5s. per ton extra. The last part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONArising out of the last part of the answer, is it the case that when foreign lines bring goods from East Africa to this country that 5s. surtax is not charged?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, nor when goods are shipped direct from East Africa to this country. This charge is only made where there is either trans-shipment in this country for further shipment to the Continent, or trans-shipment on the Continent for further shipment to this country.
§ Mr. WADDINGTONWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to whether four months ago British steam-ship owners did not withdraw this 5s. surtax, recognising that it was injurious to British trade, and whether they have been compelled to reimpose the surtax at the request of Dutch and German ship owners? In that case, will he take steps to protect British traders?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERObviously, I must have notice of a question of that comprehensiveness.
§ Mr. HARDIEWhere goods are shipped to the Continent but are not discharged there, having been sold on the voyage and coming on to some port here, is the charge of 5s. which was put on because the cargo was first consigned to the Continent still carried on here?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not sure that I altogether follow that process. I think I ought to see that question on the Paper. The answer I have given covers the specific question I was asked. The answer, shortly, is that, so far as I am aware, the 5s. charge is only made when there is trans-shipment either at a Continental port or in this country.
§ Mr. HARDIEThe question I ask is quite simple. In the case of the goods being first consigned to the Continent, and then being sold while at sea and coming on to a British port, is that 5s. still carried on to the price here?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put that question on the Paper.
§ 11. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the freight rate for cotton goods from Antwerp to Alexandria is 15s. per ton, while the freight rate from Liverpool to Alexandria is 55s. per ton, and that this disparity in freights is a severe handicap upon British trade and a cause of unemployment in Britain; whether these freight rates are arranged by the Shipping Conference; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation designed to safeguard British interests in this matter?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe rates quoted are substantially correct, although I am informed that the rate from this country covers certain inland charges which are not covered in the rate from 1570 Antwerp. The disparity is due to the fact that as regards shipments from the Continent a rate war is in progress between German, French and British shipowners. There is a Conference for shipments from Antwerp to the Mediterranean, but owing to the rate war the Conference rates do not at present apply. The rates from England are arranged by the Mediterranean Shipping Conference. The matter is not one on which I am prepared to recommend legislation.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman not of opinion that it is high time his Department applied to this House for legislation to enable him to deal with a situation which is of manifest hurt to British trade and industry?
§ Mr. HANNONBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask this further question—whether he is aware that the same set of circumstances arose in relation to our trade with South America, and whether the differentiation in rates is not causing considerable hard-ship to British exporters?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think I had better deal with one trade at a time—with the one part of the world which is referred to in the question. I am not prepared to accept the general premise which the hon. Member for Dundee (Mr. Johnston) advanced, but I think it would be very unwise and very much against the interests of British shippers and British trade generally to invite any Government Department to interfere arbitrarily in the general trade position.
§ Mr. WADDINGTONWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps, not by legislation, but by the reference of these important questions to the Imperial Shipping Committee, a body which already exists to deal with them?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, most certainly, and every case which either traders or the Government of any part of the Empire desire to bring before the Imperial Shipping Committee has been brought before them. I quite agree with my hon. Friend that that is much the best form in which these difficult and complicated matters can be thrashed out.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us what power the Imperial Shipping Committee has over 1571 a Mediterranean Shipping Conference upon which shipowners from other countries are in the majority?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Imperial Shipping Committee has the power to make inquiries, and, particularly, inquiries from the point of view of what is in the interest of Imperial trade, and I think the record of the Imperial Shipping Committee and the results which have followed from its inquiries and reports shows that while it has not executive power its influence is very great and wisely used.
Mr. BECKETTCannot the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to why there is no competition between British shipowners to bring down freights, and, if he knows it is the result of a ring, cannot he take action?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put that question on the Paper.
| The following STATEMENT shows the Value of the TRADE of CHINA with each of the undermentioned Countries during the Years 1925 and 1926 respectively. | ||||
| — | Imports into China. | Exports from China. | ||
| 1925. | 1926. | 1925. | 1926. | |
| Thousand £ | Thousand £ | Thousand £ | Thousand £ | |
| Great Britain | 16,251 | 18,107 | 8,413 | 8,695 |
| United States of America (including Hawaii). | 24,866 | 29,222 | 24,977 | 23,377 |
| Japan (including Formosa) | 52,301 | 52,467 | 32,512 | 32,974 |
| Germany | 5,672 | 7,113 | 2,866 | 2,766 |
§ For periods other than calendar years, the returns of the Chinese Maritime Customs, from which these figures are derived, furnish particulars only for individual ports, and, consequently, comparable data with those given in the table are not available for 1927.