§ MR. BROADHURSTI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is true that the labour master of the Liverpool Workhouse shipped a number of pauper lads on board the Adriatic to act as firemen; whether it is an offence against the Merchant Shipping Laws to ship as seamen men who have never previously served any time on board a ship; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ SIR M. H. BEACHIt has been stated, but I am not yet aware whether the statement is true, that paupers were shipped on the vessel referred to to act as firemen. An emigrant passenger ship must, according to law, be manned with an efficient crew to the satisfaction of the emigration officer before that officer grants a clearance enabling her to proceed to sea. I have already taken steps for instituting full inquiry into the subject.