§ Major CAYZERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to pay demurrage for the delays in discharging frozen meat at ports in the United Kingdom, seeing that the delays amount to anything between one to three weeks, involving very heavy loss to owners, especially where such delays are caused to steamers with only part cargoes of frozen meat; and whether demurrage is allowed by the Government under similar conditions where steamers are discharged at Continental ports?
§ Sir A. GEDDESAs British insulated ships were released from the liner requisition of the Ministry of Shipping in March last, their insulated spaces reverted to the control of the Board of Trade, and the latte entered into an agreement with the owners, one of the conditions of which was that no demurrage should be payable in respect of delays in ports in the United Kingdom, but that a somewhat higher rate of demurrage than that previously agreed should be allowed in the case of vessels discharging frozen meat in Continental ports. Liberty was also given to shipowners to bring up the question of demurrage in the United Kingdom ports for reconsideration after six months' experience of the rate of discharge. This they have now done, and the matter is receiving attention, but I am not yet in a position to say what the decision of the Government will be.