225
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
CO.885/25
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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voyage with coal from South Africa to Australia, and that, subject to any views which might be expressed by the Colonial Office, the Admiralty should be asked to pay the cost of the voyage, plus ten per cent. After the ship had been discharged of her cargo she should be handed over to the Transport Department, and the Committee's agreement with the Federal Steam Navigation Company terminated.
It was agreed that the Committee's views as to freight for the "Hamm's coal voyage should first be submitted to the Colonial Office, and that the Committee should add that they understood that it was the view of that Department that the ships should be retransferred to the Committee on the conclusion of the voyages for the carriage of wheat.
$1
8. s.s. "Diyatalawa."-The Committee considered a letter from Mr. Foley, of the Transport Department, relative to the basis of Messrs Lachlan's valuation. The Committee decided that the Transport Department should be informed that the basis on which the valuation had been effected was that laid down in the Fourth Report of the Committee, which had been approved by His Majesty's Government, and that if not handed over the ship would have been sold at the date of her transfer to that Department.
9.8.
9. "Frisia."-Mr. Bebb attended the Committee during the discussion of this item.
The Committee considered a letter from the Peninsular and Oriental Steam, Navigation Company suggesting that the matters at issue should be referred to some independent authority versed in the Eastern shipping business. The Com- mittee decided that the Company's proposal should be accepted and that the Com- mittee's proposals regarding the arbitrator to be chosen and the terms of reference should be forwarded to the Company at the same time. The terms of reference were to be submitted to the Committee for approval before the reply was sent.
10. s.s. "Hocking."-Mr. Bebb was present during the discussion of this item also.
It appeared that, under the terms of the charter party, the time for demurrage was to count from the arrival of the ship at or off port, whereas, according to the bills of lading, the time was to count from twenty-four hours after arrival. The claim was against the French Government, and, while the Committee considered that it would be difficult to press the claim, they were of opinion that, subject to any views which might be expressed by Messrs. Waltons and Company, a letter should be sent to demand the demurrage due.
11. Half-yearly Return of Court Proceedings.-The Committee decided that the question as to what proportion of the expenses of the Proper Officer of the Crown should be noted as a charge against the Prize Fund should be considered when the letter from the Treasury to the Colonial Office regarding the method of paying the Proper Officer of the Crown in oversea territories had been communicated to the Committee.
8.8.
12. Insurance of Cargoes at Alexandria.--The Committee considered a letter from the Foreign Office forwarding a despatch from Cairo, with regard to the failure of the Marshal at Alexandria to collect premium on certain cargo ex the Sudmark" between the 27th of January and the 17th of May, 1915. Mr. Malkin stated that, as the Marshal's appointment would cease at the end of the month, it was useless to consider the question of claiming from him personally the premium due to the underwriters, and, as the cargo had been released, it was also impossible to recover the charge from the cargo. The Committee decided that the loss must be met from their funds, if the Committee's brokers considered that premium was due.
13. 8.0. "Bellas."-The Committee considered an application from Messrs. John Stewart and Company for the increase of their management commission from £200 to £250 or £300 a year. It was pointed out that, in the accounts as rendered, a charge of nine guineas was made for services rendered by John Baker and Son, chartered accountants The Committee decided that the managers' commission should be raised to £250 a year, and that it was unnecessary to raise any question as to the charge of nine guineas in agreeing to the increase.
14. S.. "Edna." The Secretary reported that the Transport Department had stated that certain empty barrels and drums, and one full drum, had been
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landed at Dublin ex this steamer. The Committee decided that the Transport Department should be asked to give instructions for the barrels and drums to be sold and for the proceeds to be remitted to the Committee.
15. Crown Agents' Expenses.-The Committee approved the payment of £8 38. 10d. in respect of the expenses incurred by the Crown Agents and Mr. Holt in connexion with the Committee's business.
16. Sailing vessels "Behrend " and "Heinrich."-The Secretary reported that Colonel Leslie had informed him that both these sailing vessels had been sunk by German submarines. In each case the whole crew had been saved.
3042
THE ONE HUNDRED AND Thirty-eighth Meeting of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 18th December, 1916, at 3.30 p.m.
The following members were present :-
VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman). MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.
MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.
MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.
MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.
MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).
1. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
2. s.o. "Neath."-The Secretary reported that this vessel had arrived at Mauritius.
3.
8.8. Damao."-The Committee considered the draft of a letter from the Board of Trade to Messrs. Brandeis, Goldschmidt and Company, relative to their consignment of ore and copper on this ship, and decided that certain amendments to the draft should be proposed to the Board.
4. 3.8. "Nicolaos." "The Secretary reported that, after consultation with the Chairman, he had written to Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company approving the four sureties whom the purchasers proposed to obtain for the bond against the transfer of the ship to a foreigner or a foreign corporation within a period of five years from the termination of the War. He added that the purchasers had found it impossible to obtain a banker's guarantee for the bond, and it appeared difficult, in view of the wording of the conditions of sale, to insist on such guarantee being given where satisfactory individual sureties were offered. The Secretary suggested that, in view of the expense to which purchasers would be put if the con- ditions of sale were altered to provide for a banker's guarantee only, a clause should be inserted in the proposed Naval Prize Bill to enforce by legislation this provision in the conditions of sale for prize ships, The Committee considered, however, that it was unnecessary to take any action either for the alteration of the conditions of sale or to recommend legislation on these lines.
Mr. Malkin reported that the Court at Alexandria had refused to reduce the amount payable into Court for the Greek part owner, and that His Majesty's Procurator had been instructed to pay the amount due into Court.
The Secretary reported that, according to an Order made by the Court at Alexandria, the Crown were required to account for the sixty per cent. of the pro- ceeds of the sale. Mr. Malkin stated that he did not consider that under this Order it would be necessary to pay the sum in question into Court, and the Com- mittee agreed that it was unnecessary for any action to be taken in the matter.
5. Steamships "Hamm and Apolda."-Mr. Tennyson pointed out that, pending any arrangements which might be made for the payment of freight on the voyages of these ships after loading wheat in Australia, the Committee would be out of pocket on account of the disbursements thrown on them by the arrangement. with the Transport Department. The Committee saw no reason to alter their view that any arrangements as to freight must remain in abeyance for the time being
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