§ MR. BURTasked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to section 3 of "The Merchant Seamen (Payment of Wages and Eating) Act, 1880," sub-section 1, In what proportion of the agreements with seamen going on foreign voyages have stipulations been made for the allotment of any part not exceeding half of their wages to be paid monthly to their friends; with reference to the other sub-sections of section 3, in what proportion of the agreements with seamen, have they been allowed to make monthly allotments of half their wages to savings banks; and, in how many cases have the Board of Trade prevented seamen whilst abroad withdrawing from the savings banks their half wages so lodged?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, I am unable to state in what proportion of the agreements with seamen going on foreign voyages stipulations have been made for the allotment of part of their wages to their friends; but in almost every case of a vessel proceeding on a foreign voyage, allotment notes have been granted to some members of the crew. The only instances of seamen availing themselves of the power to allot a portion of their wages to savings banks have occurred at the Victoria Docks. The number of cases is 15, and the total sum received from owners and credited to the seamen's-savings bank is £246 10s. In no case have the Board of Trade prevented a seaman while abroad from withdrawing money from a savings bank in the United Kingdom.