CO885-24 — Page 196

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE Reference :-

19

mmimmimi.C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRE NOT TO

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MINUTES.

of (a) 1,000 bags of ground-nuts, (b) 34 bales of hides. As regards (a) they decided to call for the further evidence suggested by Messrs. Waltons, but in the meantime The Committee agreed to the they thought that the consignment could be sold. release of (b).

16.

It was also agreed that any further applications of a similar kind might be All consignments, however, could be referred to Messrs. Waltons & Company. sold except those which the Committee had actually agreed to release.

Elder Dempster should be instructed to release the consignment referred to under (b) above and to make the same charges as in the case of released cargo, with the addition of £2 in respect of the fee to the Gibraltar Prize Court.

-The Committee were not prepared to accept a further "Heinz.” 8.8. offer, which had been received from Messrs. Mitchell, Cotts & Company for the The purchase of this ship for £6,150, Messrs. Kellock having advised that at least as much could probably be obtained if the ship were sold by public auction. Committee thought there was no particular urgency about the sale, and that a telegram might be sent to South Africa to inquire whether the "Heinz" could be returned to Capetown under the arrangement which had been concluded with the charterer. who had taken her to Port Nolloth.

17. 8.

"Ranee.”—The Committee were informed that the Court had appraised this ship at £11,000. It was thought that Mr. Somerville should be asked to pay insurance on this sum only.

The Committee thought that the 10 per cent. discount given by Messrs. Glanvill, Enthoven & Company should be allowed to Mr. Somerville, but that the portion of the brokerage of 5 per cent. allowed by the firm should be retained by the Committee.

483

THE THIRTY-seventh MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, 22nd 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. W. J. Evans, Admiralty.

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

MR. C. HIPWOOD, Board of Trade.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MB. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

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

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

Colonel Leslie was also present during the discussion of 4 and 5.

2.

"B

8.8.

"

1. 8.8. Gracia.”—The Chairman stated that a ship would be required to bring No home warlike material from some port in the United States of America, and the

would be suitable for this purpose. Committee thought that the "Græcia definite arrangements could, however, be made until the following meeting.

Rooke."-Mr. Holt stated that it had been ascertained that there was no demand for another ship in the coasting trade at the present moment. After a conversation on the telephone with Messrs. Tyzack & Branfoot, the Committee agreed that this ship might go to Genoa if the managers could obtain a guarantee that there would be no undue detention at that port owing to the congestion at the quays. 3. Emir."-Mr. Holt stated that it was no longer desired to make use of the three little sailing ships to store cargo, as Messrs. Churchill and Sim were going to make other arrangements for disposing of the hemp and sisal.

8.3.

"

In connexion with the expenses to be charged upon persons to whom condemned cargo might ultimately be released, the Committee thought that, as a matter of principle, Messrs. Waltons' charges for investigating the claims should be borne by the claimants. They noted, however, that Messrs. Waltons & Company had generously offered to make no charge in these cases.

Mr. Tennyson raised the question as to whether there was any objection under. the Civil List Act to handing over condemned goods to claimants who had been unable to submit their case to the Gibraltar Prize Court. The Committee saw no objection.

4.

MINUTES.

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Agreement with the Newcastle Managers of the Admiralty Coasting Trade Office-The Committee discussed whether Messrs. Newbigin & Everitt's remunera- tion, including both the £100 per annum per ship and the 7 per cent. on net profits, was intended to be limited to £5,000 a year, or whether it was intended that they should be allowed £100 a year in respect of each ship with which they dealt to cover office expenses, the maximum of £5,000 a year only applying to the 7 per cent. They recommended that, having regard to Mr. Runciman's answer to a question in the Mr. House of Commons, the point should be submitted to him for a decision. Hipwood undertook to do this. The Committee agreed that the date from which Messrs. Newbigin & Everitt's remuneration was to cease, in regard to any ship lost or withdrawn by the Admiralty owing to damage, should be six weeks after date of the occurrence of damage or loss. They also thought that, for the purpose of decid- ing the amount to be calculated in respect of insurance premiums on uninsured The war risk rate vessels, the ships should all be appraised by the High Court. should be that of the War Risks Insurance Office if it were lower than that of Lloyd's.

5. Employment of Messrs. Waltons by the Coasting Trade Office.-The Com- mittee decided that a letter should be sent by the Secretary to Messrs. Waltons & Company asking them to take instructions from Colonel Leslie, for the Committee, as to their employment to deal with legal questions arising out of the coasting trade

business.

6. 8.8. "Erymanthos."-The Secretary informed the Committee that Sir Arthur Webb was consulting the Egyptian Government with regard to the rails and sleepers and other railway material landed from this ship at Malta. The Com- mittee recommended that the Governor of Malta should be informed that the Egyp- tian Government was being asked whether they would purchase any of this material, and that if no arrangements could be concluded with that Government the materiał The Governor should, however, report should be sent to England for disposal. before he made arrangements for shipping it, and he should also report the freight tonnage and the numbers of rails and sleepers separately.

7.

8.8. Josephina."-The Chairman informed the Committee that he desired to fix this ship with nitrates from the west coast of South America. Mr. Holt was asked to communicate in the matter with Antony Gibbs & Company.

8. Conditions of Sale.-The Committee approved the draft alterations made by Mr. Tennyson in the conditions of sale for sailing ships. They thought that the conditions of purchase of steamers by French citizens should be settled between the Foreign Office and the Admiralty Marshal, and Mr. Malkin undertook to see that this matter was considered at an early date.

9. Large Sailing Ships. Mr. Starkey having made an offer of £200 a month

for the use of the "Carl," the Committee agreed that he might be allowed to take

her.

The "Schwarzenbek," the "Chile," and the "R. C. Rickmers" should be given

to three of the following:-T. A. Schute, John Stewart & Company, Robert Ŏwen & Company, John Joyce & Company.

(4

10. 8.8. Gutenfels," 8.8. “Barenfels,” 8.8.

Werdenfels," s.8.

Lauterfels."—

The Committee thought that these ships should be insured by Grahams & Company from the date on which they left port.

The Chairman stated that the Admiralty wished that a ship should be sent to

the Persian Gulf somewhere about the middle of April. It was thought that either the "Lauterfels" or the "Werdenfels" would be suitable for the purpose.

-8.8.

[1

"

11. Alexandria Ships.-The Committee approved the following Agreements: "Pindos," with Andrew Weir & Company; 8.8. "Altair," with H. W. Dillon & Sons; s.s. "Helgoland," with The Ocean Steamship Company, Limited.

12. 8.8. Quarta," 8.8. Rajaburi."--Mr. Tennyson undertook to consider whether the clause stipulating that Members of Parliament were not to be admitted to the benefits of the Agreement should be inserted in the Agreements for the use of these ships, and in any other of the Committee's agreements.

13.

8.8. Birkenfels," 8.3.

CL

Hamm," 8.8.

Apolda."-Mr. Tennyson read to the Committee a statement from Messrs. William Richards & Sons about the He also read a telegram expenses incurred in connexion with the "Birkenfels." from South Africa stating that the necessary orders had been made for the " Hamm

* No. 12 (a) in Appendix B.

F 2