§ Mr. FERENSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether, on a recent date, five steamers called at the mouth of the Thames for orders, and were sent to an East Coast port, and on their arrival there they received within twenty-four hours orders to return to London; whether any of these ships carried foodstuffs or valuable raw material; and for what reason these vessels were sent through dangerous waters on a fruitless journey?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI regret to say that it is true that on a recent date four steamers containing cargoes were misdirected in the manner indicated by my hon. Friend. The misdirection was the result of a clerical error, which was not discovered soon enough to prevent an unnecessary voyage by three of them. I should like to be allowed to say that no such mistake has before been made by the Department concerned, which has issued thousands of instructions, and its work has been of great value and importance in reducing the losses of British tonnage. 953W Nevertheless, precautions have been taken to prevent its recurrence, as far as that is humanly possible.