London, Nov. 4.
Difficulties experienced by British shipping concerns in Shanghai were aired in the House of Common: to-day The subject was raised.by Mr. A. C. Moreing. Conservative member for Preston. who asked if the Board of Trade was aware that British merchants in Shanghai were seriously handicapped by the prohibitive rates quoted for war risks for vessels going to Shanghai or Woosung.
Capt, Euan Wallace, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. replied that he had been informed.that underwriters were freely granting war risk insurance on vessels going to those ports and on their cargoes. other than war materials. Insurance on cargo, he declared, was at present limited to the period during which it was aboard an ocean-going vessel, but he understood that underwriters were considering the possibility of assisting shippers by extending the scope of the existing cover.
Mr. Moreing then asked if the Board of Trade would point out to British shipowners the serious damage they weredoingto. British trade by their delay in resuming sending ships to Woosung and drew attention io the recent specification made by the Commander-in-Chief (Admiral Sir Charles Little) if the hours ana localities in which he considered it safe for British ships to anchor. and the absence of difüculty in securing the services of lighters between Woosung and Shanghai.
It was for shipowners to decide. Capt. Euan Wallace replied. whether to send ships to Woosung or not. and in deciding they doubtless would take into account various factors, including the consideration of safety and the amount of business
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.