CO129-622-8 Pre-war claim on Admiralty for supply of flour 21-10-1949 - 9-3-1950 — Page 37

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Victualling Department,

Admiralty,

Queen Anne's Mansions,

London, S.W.12

3rd November, 1948.

36

Dear Captain Hickman,

I write in connection with a pre-occupational claim which has been lodged by the Hong Kong Government in respect of 4,400 sacks flour (355,500 lbs) which, it is stated were requisitioned by the Controller of Food from Messrs. L. Dunbar & Co. on 9th December, 1941, for delivery to H.M. Dockyard, Hong Kong. I understand that you were B.A.0. at the time, and a member of the Food Control Committee.

It would appear that a statement of Naval War Emergency requirements (including flour) was lodged with the Colonial Controller of Food, and that at the outbreak of hostilities it was agreed between the V.S.O. and the Food Controller that the bulk of the flour should remain with the latter officer. It is understood that an immediate supply of 200 bags was made to both the V.S.O. at Aberdeen, and the B.A.0. at the Victualling Depot in H.M. Dockyard. Reports from members of the Victualling Department who were serving at Hong Kong at the time, concerning the actual transfer of the balance of the emergency requirements of flour are somewhat conflicting, and it is thought that arrangements may have been made subsequently by B.A.0. to take the balance of the flour into the Dockyard. I should be glad if you would say from your recollections whether such arrangements were made.

A further point concerns the actual make-up of the claim. Since the flour was requisitioned from Messrs. L. Dunbar & Co. I think it can be taken that the flour was of Canadian origin. Given that 355,500 lbs. flour were supplied in 4,400 bags, the average content of the bags works out at 80.81 lbs., whereas purchases of Canadian flour were normally made in 49 lb. bags. It may have been that supplies were available at the time for civilian use in 98 lb. bags, and that a proportion of the quantity stated to have been taken over may have been contained in this pack. I should be grateful if you would comment on this point.

Yours sincerely,

F.S. CHANDLER

Captain (S) C.S.B. Hickman, 0.B.E., R.N.,

R.N. Barracks,

Chatham.