§ 35. Mr. PHILIP OLIVERasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average cost for freight of a bale of any specified class of cotton goods from Osaka to Bombay and from Manchester to Bombay, respectively; what is the difference in distance from the two ports; and how much of the freight on English goods is accounted for by Suez Canal dues?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI am informed that the average cost of freight per bale of cotton piece goods from Osaka to Bombay is 8s. 9d. and from Manchester to Bombay 15s. 9d. The distance from Osaka to Bombay is nearly 1,100 miles less than that from Manchester to Bombay. It is not possible to estimate the real effect of Suez Canal dues on rates of freight for any particular commodity as this depends on the size of the vessel and the classes and quantities of goods carried.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEDoes not the difference arise very largely from the different standard of wages paid in the mercantile marines of the two countries?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThat is undoubtedly one of the factors in the situation.