§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the price for, say, seconds coal in Liverpool was about 14s. per ton pre-war; that shippers are now charging about 25s. f.o.b., which is equivalent to an advance of 11s. per ton, or, say, vs. over the advance allowed under the Coal Prices (Limitation) Act; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Belfast last Wednesday.
§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the average pre-war freight from Liverpool to Dublin was about 3s. 3d. to 3s. 6d., less 1s. per ton allowed by shipowners to consignees for the cost of labour of discharge; that the present rate is from 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d., less 1s. per ton as above for the cost of discharge; and whether, seeing that the shipowner is charging about 7s. 3d. per ton over the pre-war rate of freights, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI fear I cannot usefully add anything to the answers which have already been given on this question of freight rates on coal to Dublin.