§ 13. Mr. Snaddenasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that a considerable number of pedigree cattle and pigs await shipment to South Africa and that freight is not available; whether he will make representations to the South African Conference of Shipping Lines; and whether he will review the present arrangements with the Union Castle Line in the matter of free freight.
§ Mr. BarnesYes. It has not yet been possible to restore the number of sailings to anything like prewar level, and there are heavy demands upon the limited deck space available for other high priority cargo. I am assured that the South and East African Conference Lines fully appreciate the necessity for the maximum movement of these animals as part of the general expert drive, and that they are taking full advantage of all the opportunities of shipment which occur. One hundred and twenty-five head of cattle have been shipped this year. I have no reason to believe that the operation of the "free freight" system acts as a deterrent to this movement.