MR. GILPINsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he has considered the desirability of introducing a dietary scale for Seamen into the Mercantile Marine Bill; and, whether he has been informed that the carrying out of the Admiralty Scale for Troops and Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners' Scale for Emigrants has been highly satisfactory, and that a similar scale for Seamen could now be arranged without entailing additional cost to shipowners?
MR. BRIGHT, in reply, said, the answer he had to give to the Question put by his hon. Friend was very short. By the Merchant Shipping Act of 1854 a dietary scale, as agreed upon between the parties, was to be inserted in the articles of agreement. The Board of Trade had no power in the matter; and, generally, he might say he thought that to settle questions of what should be the supply of food between employer and employed would not be a very desirable occupation for that Department.