§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Minister of Transport how many ships, at the latest available date, were on the high seas between Britain and South American ports; how many are held up there; what is the average time of the turn round; and, in view of the necessity for increasing exports and of importing food, if he will take immediate steps to remedy a state of affairs caused by a lack of proper organisation.
§ Mr. Barnes:On 8th July, approximately 52 British ships were at sea between British and South American ports, and lb British ships in port in South America destined for the United Kingdom of which five had been in South America for more than a month. No 146W vessels destined for this country are a t present held up for lack of cargo
During the past two months, the average time spent in South American ports discharging and/ or loading cargo was about 35 days in the case of British vessels loading bulk cargoes, 17 days in the case of liners carrying refrigerated cargo, and 4o days for general cargo liners.
With regard to the third part of the Question, the operation of the ships is in the hands of the shipping companies. Delay in port is mainly due to labour disputes in South America and general difficulties regarding availability of cargo, over which the shipowners have no control