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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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MINUTES.

THE THIRTY-Fourth MeetING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 11th March, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present :-

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).

MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.

MB. C. HIPWOOD, Board of Trade.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

1. Coal for Egypt.-A telegram from His Majesty's High Commissioner for Egypt, stating that the supply of coal for irrigation purposes was an urgent one, Having regard to the nature of the representations was read to the Committee.

now made by the Egyptian Government, the Committee recommended that the Foreign Office should telegraph to Alexandria saying that three or four ships could probably be sent with coal very shortly, and asking who would be the buyers in this country and what freight would be paid by the Egyptian Government. The Com- mittee understood that the current rate was about 92s. 6d. per ton. Mr. Wakely Indian also undertook to find out, through Grahams and Company, whether ships in this country had not yet been fixed and were still available. In the mean. time the Committee thought that no steps should be taken to fix the "Græcia" or the Rooke." Both these ships required repairs and no immediate decision in regard to either of them was required.

any

2. 8.8. "Rooke."-A telegram having been received from the Governor of Gibraltar that 422 bags of maize er "Emir," shipped on the "Rooke," had been released by the Gibraltar Prize Court to a French firm, Mr. Holt undertook to make inquiries with a view to finding out whether the firm had an agent in this country, and what they wished to be done with the consignment in question.

3. 8.8. "Josephina."-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that Mesare. Farrar, Groves and Company had stated that there was no cargo offering from Monte Video or Brazil. The Committee agreed that the managers must arrange as seemed ·best to them, even if it meant that the ship had to be brought to Europe without a cargo. It was understood, however, that in the latter event a certain amount of cargo might he picked up at some European port on the way to this country.

4. 8.8. “Emir.”-A letter from Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company raising certain points was read. The Committee thought that, in fixing the rates to be charged where the original freight had not been prepaid, it was not necessary to charge additional berth rates of 5s. a ton, which it was understood would have been charged by the original ship-owners if the cargo had been forwarded beyond the port of destination. A rebate of 10 per cent, which would have been allowed under the deferred rates system should not be granted. The Committee agreed that it would be sufficient evidence as to the prepayment of freight if the bill of lading were stamped "freight payable at Zanzibar, Mombasa," etc., as it was understood that where bills of lading were so stamped it implied that freight had been prepaid.

Mr. Holt informed the Committee that there had been a considerable amount of pilferage. The Committee thought that the question of the responsibility for this should be discussed later on with the Government of Gibraltar.

The Committee considered a proposal that the ship should be loaded with coal from South Wales for the Gold Coast and Nigeria, but were not prepared to come to a final decision as to this, in view of the possibility that further information might be available at the next meeting as to the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to the conditions of sale.

The Committee agreed to a proposal from Messrs. Churchill and Sim that hemp and sisal which could not be stored in the warehouses of the Port of London Authority might be taken in barges to other warehouses. They thought it unneces- sary to insure the cargo against craft or fire risks, as it appeared from the manifest that the cargo had been condemned.

MINUTES.

61

It was agreed that the applications which had been received for the release of certain consignments of hides and ground-nuts, from claimants who had not sub- mitted their cases in the Gibraltar Prize Court, should be referred to Waltons and Company.

*

5. 8.8. Birkenfels."-The agreement with the Federal Steam Navigation Company for the management of this ship after she had been discharged in Australia was approved.

As regards the application which had been received through the High Com- missioner for the conveyance of a cargo of concentrates from Australia to the United States, it was understood that the Federal Steam Navigation Company thought that The Committee agreed that better freights might be secured in other directions.

cargo

of

the High Commissioner should be informed that the charter of the steamer had been placed in the hands of the Federal Steam Navigation Company, and that the latter had been asked to bear in mind the possibility of securing this

'Lauterfels," "Werdenfels."

concentrates.

#

14

6. Steamships “Gutenfels,” “Barenfels,” The Committee approved the agreements with the representatives, subject to a slight alteration in the preamble. Mr. Holt was authorized to place the management of these ships after their discharge in the hands of Grahams and Company on the usual terms, and to inform them that they must consult the Committee before they definitely fixed any charter.

7. Mr. Holt reported to the Committee on the following ships :-"Adolphus," Thor," "Frisia," Kawak,' Eryman- George R.," "Kalymnos," "Lorenzo,"

thos," " Syra."

"

"

8. Alexandria ships. Mr. Holt stated that he had learnt that six more of these ships had been requisitioned. The Committee agreed that no further action should be taken to fix arrangements for these ships.

9. 8.8.

"Heinz."-A telegram had been received from the Governor-General of South Africa, recommending the acceptance of the offer of Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts and Company of £5,000 for this ship. The Committee were not inclined to sell her by private treaty, and they decided that Kellock and Company should be asked to put her up for sale at the earliest possible date. The Union Government should be informed accordingly.

10. 8.8. “Lucia," late "Spreewald."-The agreement with Elder Dempster and Company for a voyage to West Africa and back was approved.

11. An application received from the Canadian Pacific Railway Company for the charter of a ship of from 6,000 to 8,000 tons gross.-The Secretary was instructed to reply that they regretted that no suitable ships were available for charter to the Company.

12. Application for the management of Sailing Vessels.-Mr. Holt was asked to interview Messrs. John Stewart and Company, and to find out what proposals the firm had to make for the use of these ships.

13. Valuation of Ships for Insurance Purposes.-The Committee agreed that Glanvill. Enthoven and Company might be instructed to pay Messrs. Lachlan's account for '£42.

14. Messrs. Hartley Cooper and Company's Claim for Brokerage.—Waltons and Company had reported that the firm was willing to compromise the matter for 500 guineas. The Committee agreed that this should be accepted. Colonel Leslie should be asked to pay Messrs. Hartley Cooper and Company accordingly.

15. Accounts.-The Committee discussed how far it would be practicable to give the Assistant Paymaster-General general authority to pay sums on agreements which had been approved by them. They were of opinion that it would not be worth while for the Treasury to alter the instructions which had already been issued, but that in a few cases they could, under the existing instructions, give general authority to the Assistant Paymaster-General to make the payments contemplated by any In the case of charter special agreement which the Committee had approved. parties, the Committee thought that all claims must be forwarded to the Assistant Paymaster-General through the Secretary.

* No. 5 in Appendix B.