CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 267

Telegrams "SHIPMINDER, VIC, LONDON,"

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-

The Secretary,

Ministry of Shipping,

St. James's Park.

London, S. W..

and the following number quoted. 60647/18.

255

MINISTRY OF SHIPPING,

7th January, 1909. O

€155

Sir,

REC (Red 29 JAN 19

With reference to the letter of the 17th May last from this Department, relative to the rates of payment to be made to owners of requisitioned vessels, I am directed by the Shipping Controller to inform you that the basis of commission payable to managers and to other third parties has now been agreed with the two China Companies.

It has been arranged that in regard to all vessels loaded on and after the 1st January, 1918, commission will be payable at the customary rates, calculated on such proportion of the manifest freights as may be agreed locally between the representatives of the Ministry of Shipping, the Lines and the Auditors to represent on the average 175% of the July 1914 level of freights, 175% of the July 1914 level of freights being the general average of the standard freights adopted for commission purposes under the Imperial Scheme.

It has also been arranged that in cases in which the cost of fulfilling owners' obligations under the Blue Book and Charter Parties is not capable of exact ascertainment, the deduction to be made from the payment to the Lines will be calculated at the rate of 1/3a. per annum per gross ton on the total tonnage of the fleet owned by the Line and under requisition for the purposes of the Liner Scheme or otherwise at the beginning of the Scheme.

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

Whitehall, Ś.W.1.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Johutuderson