§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if he is aware that, although a very high rate of freight has been offered to a steamer to load a cargo of nitrate of soda from Chile to Europe, a licence for the yoyage was refused by his Department; and whether the vessel in question has been ordered to leave Chile in ballast and to proceed to North America to load lumber?
Colonel WILSONA vessel now on Government Service in the Pacific has been offered release from requisition on the condition mentioned. In view of the urgency of this and other Government requirements, no other course would have been justified.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if his attention has been called to the condition of the nitrate of soda trade; if he is aware that, owing to the impossibility of obtaining tonnage, stocks amounting to over 1,000,000 tons of nitrate have accumulated in Chile, and shipments to Europe cannot be made; if, in view of the need for fertilisers and the necessity of spreading the period of shipment and arrival, licences will be given to vessels from June onwards to load this commodity; and if he is aware that before the War the annual shipments were about 3,000,000 tons, and that at least two-thirds of this quantity will be required for the world's needs during the next agricultural season, and should be shipped between July and April?
Colonel WILSONI am aware generally that Chilian exporters are anxious to find a market for their production, and European countries no doubt desire to import. As the tonnage position continues to improve, their prospects of doing so will increase. It is not, however, possible to put this industry in a favoured position in regard to the employment of British tonnage, as my hon. Friend suggests, by any guarantee of licences. Every application for a nitrate voyage by a British ship must be considered on its merits and in its relation to other requirements.