§ Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that British merchants shipping goods to South and East Africa by the Conference lines are not informed in advance what the actual freight payable on any consignment will be; whether the Department of the Board of Trade which deals with freight charges has information relative to the freight adjustment method in connection with these Conference lines; whether he is aware that British exporters are handicapped in quoting prices by not knowing in advance what the actual freight payable may be; and whether any representations have been made by British exporters on this subject?
§ Viscount WOLMERI am informed that there is no difficulty or uncertainty about the ordinary rates of freight, but, owing to foreign competition, an agreement was made with the traders for a special adjustment or refund on shipments to South Africa, the amount of which depends on the extent of competition and on the size of shipments, and cannot, therefore, be determined till after the ships have sailed. It would, of course, be an advantage both to the exporters and to the shipowners if the exact amount of the freight to be paid were known beforehand, but the conditional nature of the refund or adjustment given to the exporter renders this impossible. The Board of Trade keep in touch with these questions of freight adjustment, and has not received any representations from exporters recently.