HC Deb 05 May 1890 vol 344 cc132-4
ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the following remarks made by Admiral H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh at the annual meeting of "Missions to Seamen" Society, held at the Mansion House on 28th, April:— The Report also complains that in some ports abroad, and in Crown Colonies, especially Hong Kong and Singapore, the crews are compelled to do unnecessary work in transhipping cargoes on Sundays, which causes much discontent and discomfort to the men, and puts a stop to all religious observances. Whereas in the Australian and self-governing Colonies such unnecessary working of cargoes is rigidly forbidden. I understand that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has called the attention of some Colonial Governors to this grievance of seamen; and whether the practice complained of has been prohibited, so that seamen may enjoy their Sunday rest in port in common with other of Her Majesty's subjects?

BARON H. DE WORMS

The Secretary of State has been in correspondence with the Governors of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements on the subject of Sunday labour in the ports of Hong Kong and Singapore. They have represented that there would be difficulties in the way of legislation prohibiting Sunday labour in these harbours; but the Local Chambers of Commerce have been approached by the Governors with a view to securing a reduction of all such avoidable labour by united voluntary action on the part of the merchant and shipping agents. I may add that the Secretary of State is about to consult on this question Sir Cecil Smith and Sir William des Voeux, who are now in England.

ADMIRAL FIELD

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the following remarks made by Admiral H.R. H the Duke of Edinburgh at the Mansion House, 28th April, when presiding at the annual meeting of "Missions to Seamen"Society:— But this system of sending seamen direct to their homes, and the transmission of their wages alter them, has not yet been extended to foreign shores; British crews are dismissed from their ships on the coasts of France, Belgium, and Holland, &c., to await payment amongst people of a strange language, so that the Consul of Dunkirk reports as follows, with just indignation,' of the sharks of all nations, who infest the large discharging ports between the Elbe and Brest, in order to live principally on the British seaman and his weaknesses; and urges 'the introduction of the system for the transmission of wages, free of charge, at the chief discharging ports between the Elbe and Brest.' In Dunkirk last year 2,002 British seamen were discharged, receiving £34,060 in cash, and £658 in bills on the owners. Of this money, £16,056 was remitted by 911 money orders, leaving £19,187 for the crimps to operate upon in that one French Port; and whether he will endeavour to meet the evil complained of, as recommended by the Consul of Dunkirk, by inserting a clause in the next Merchant Shipping Amendment Act?

SIR M. HICKS BEACH

The question of still further facilitating the transmission of seamen's wages to this country, and of sending to their homes seamen discharged at foreign ports, has not failed to receive attention. But it has not yet proved practicable to overcome all the difficulties which have been found to exist, arising in some measure through the difference in the laws and regulations in operation in foreign ports. Any scheme of the kind in foreign ports would probably have to extend to seamen whose homes are in the British possessions as well as to those who reside in the United Kingdom. The transmission scheme has been worked in this country by the staff which is also employed in the prevention of crimping and in the performance of other duties in connection with the Mercantile Marine. To provide the necessary assistance at foreign ports would involve a very considerable expenditure. In the year ended March, 1889, seamen discharged abroad took advantage of the Seamen's Foreign Money Order system to the extent of over 4,000 orders, representing more than £60,000.