Dr Christopher Addison: The first figure is due to some redemption of the Sinking Fund.
Dr Christopher Addison: Why put this Clause in?
Dr Christopher Addison: I have heard every word of the Debate, and I repeat: Why put this Clause in? What is the advantage of the Clause?
Dr Christopher Addison: I suppose, from the introduction of this Clause, that it is put in to please someone, but one wants to know why they are going to be pleased, and I think the Committee is entitled to know that. If some people wish to be exempted from certain provisions of this Bill, it is not unreasonable to suppose that they have some reason for wishing that, and I think we should know what the reason is. It...
Dr Christopher Addison: It is the right hon. Gentleman himself who is responsible.
Dr Christopher Addison: Can the hon. and gallant Member give an instance?
Dr Christopher Addison: But the hon. and gallant Member must know that we voted against the subsidy because the sailors were not getting their share of the benefit.
Dr Christopher Addison: I should like to associate myself with my hon. Friends in expressing our appreciation of the fact that the President of the Board of Trade has arranged to hold a special inquiry into the losses which have been occurring with such tragic frequency during the last 12 months. I am glad that at last the President of the Board of Trade—of course he will not say that it is due to us—is coming...
Dr Christopher Addison: I can give the quotations if the right hon. Gentleman desires.
Dr Christopher Addison: That is not the ease. If the right hon. Gentleman really wants me to quote what he said on the 4th December, I will do so. He said that he was afraid that no useful purpose would be served by holding any further inquiry. He now proposes to hold a further inquiry, and I congratulate him. It is not for him to say that he has not altered his opinion; he has, and I congratulate him on doing so....
Dr Christopher Addison: I do not infer anything. I said that these ships are owned by a British shipping company, registered under the British flag, and therefore my suggestion is that it is incumbent upon the Board of Trade if they want to promote the employment of British seamen as far as they can, to make it a condition for a grant of the subsidy that British seamen should be employed on these ships.
Dr Christopher Addison: They receive a subsidy in aid of the voyage, to enable them, as the Act says, to compete with foreign ships.
Dr Christopher Addison: As a matter of fact, these are tramp steamers.
Dr Christopher Addison: Yes they are. If the hon. and gallant Member wants the names, I will pass them on to him with pleasure. I will give him the list and he will find that a considerable number of ships to-day—there are scores of them, including one or two well known groups of ships—employ Chinamen, Malays, Arabs and so on. The point that I want to impress upon the President of the Board of Trade is that he...
Dr Christopher Addison: Quite true.
Dr Christopher Addison: May I ask who is making the investigation?
Dr Christopher Addison: 60. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that at the extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the White Star Line on 7th March it was disclosed that there was nothing to show for a sum of over £6,000,000 except further liabilities of over £3,000,000; and whether, in order that in the near future some protection may be afforded to the capital of the...
Dr Christopher Addison: Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the shareholders' meeting where they specifically asked for this protection on the part of the Government?
Dr Christopher Addison: 77. asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inquire into the cases of William George Stratford, son of Private William George Stratford, No. 32,097, of the 10th Hussars, who died of wounds in October, 1918, and of Annie May Gubbins, daughter of Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Gubbins, No. 9,699, of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, who was killed in action October, 1918, both of whom...
Dr Christopher Addison: In view of the fact that the man was suffering from tuberculosis before the war, would it not be a fact that war service would necessarily worsen and aggravate his condition, and, in that case, cannot the Minister accept responsibility?