§ MR. MOOREasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been drawn to the necessity of some protection for foreign emigrants 269 passing through London to save them from extortion and robbery on the part of touts, runners, watermen, lodging-house keepers, and others; and, if not, whether he will make inquiries to ascertain if such necessity exists; whether the Board of Trade have any authority over the lodging-houses frequented by emigrants; and, how many distinct and independent local authorities there are controlling such houses in the Metropolis?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN, in reply, said, the emigration officers were always willing to assist emigrants, and advise them as to any question of difficulty about contract tickets, and also in the way of securing passages in the event of the emigration agents breaking their contracts. The Board of Trade had no control whatever over lodging-houses. They were entirely within the jurisdiction of the Local Government Board.
§ MR. MOOREasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he could state how many independent local bodies there were who had authority over lodging-houses around the Port of London?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINreplied, that he could give no information on that subject.