§ Mr. WILESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a cargo of linseed, per the "Oberon," bound from Buenos Ayres to Rotterdam, was ordered into Falmouth River in November, 1916, owing to the submarine danger in crossing to a Dutch port; that instructions were given by the owners to Messrs. Pinnock Brothers, of 30, Mark Lane, E.C., to dispose of the cargo in the English market and remit the proceeds to them in due course; and that, before this was accomplished, the Oils and Fats Committee, in December, 1917, requisitioned the cargo at £28 per ton and insisted that the shipping documents should be handed over to that Department without any payment; and, if so, will he state why Messrs. Pinnock Brothers, although they had advanced £40,000 to the owners against the documents, have, up to the present time, received no payment from the Ministry of Food?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The cargo in question was requisitioned by the Ministry of Food under the Seeds, Nuts, and Kernels (Requisition) Order, 1917, and negotiations took place with Messrs. Pinnock Brothers with a view to the fixing of the amount to be paid as compensation to the owners. In the meantime Messrs. Pinnock Brothers were required to hand over the cargo and documents so that the seed might not deteriorate, but might be crushed, and thereby be rendered available for consumption. Some difficulty has, however, arisen with regard to the amount of compensation to be paid, and a further communication from the solicitors acting for Messrs. Pinnock Brothers is being awaited by the Ministry of Food. Payment will be made immediately an agreement with regard to the amount of compensation has been reached, and in default of agreement the matter will be referred to the Defence of the Realm Losses Commission.