HC Deb 25 April 1950 vol 474 c87W
84. Sir W. Smithers

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the steamer "Lysaker" chartered by his Department, arrived at Hartlepool recently, and unloaded a cargo of wood from the Russian zone of Germany at Hartlepool, which was then despatched by rail to Hull; and why was the s.s. "Lysaker" not ordered to dock at Hull.

Mr. Rhodes

The cargo in question was one of two of Polish pitwood of a size suitable for saw logs originally intended for Hull. Hull timber merchants refused to accept the first cargo which was unloaded and sold to a merchant inland. The second was diverted to West Hartlepool. After seeing the first cargo unloading., the Hull merchants changed their minds and asked to buy the second cargo even though they knew it had gone to West Hartlepool. This was accordingly arranged.