§ Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade what were the current rates of freights on coal from Garston and Partington to Belfast, Dublin, and Cork on 4th August, 1914, when war was declared; what were the rates of freights for similar cargoes, at the ports indicated, on 30th October, 1916, and whether he can state the free-on-board prices at the English ports refered to, on the same dates, for best house coal?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe freight rates on coal from Garston in August, 1914, were as follows: To Belfast, 3s. to 4s.; to Dublin, 2s. 6d. to 4s.; to Cork, 4s. to 5s. The rates to Dublin and Belfast at the end of last month are believed to be, roughly, from 10s. to l1s., and to Cork 15s. to 16s. Rates from Partington are from 6d. to 1s. above these rates. The wholesale prices of best house coal free-on-board Garston were, in August, 1914, 16s. 6d. to 16s. 9d., and at the end of last month 25s. 6d.