§ 41. Lieutenant W. Shepherdasked the Minister of War Transport why it is necessary to charge£45 for the Atlantic passage, when. three or four times the normal number of passengers are crowded into each ship.
§ Mr. BarnesThe fare quoted by the hon. Member is that charged to civilians for passage to Canada in ships fitted out as troop transports. This fare is apprecibly lower than the minimum fare which would apply in the average cabin class ship when engaged in commercial service on the North Atlantic, and very much less than the minimum cabin class fare which would apply in the fastest ships. The reduced rate is fair compensation for the austerity conditions in troop transports, of which passengers are made fully aware before they embark.