§ MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has taken any, and if so what, action with regard to that portion of the Report of the Royal Commission on Labour which refers to seamen of the Mercantile Marine, and can be dealt with without legislation?
§ MR. BRYCEYes, Sir; I decided some little time ago to address a Circular communication to shipowners, and to issue instructions to the officers of the Board of Trade with regard to such of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Labour respecting seamen as can be properly dealt with without legislation. I have to-day laid on the Table Papers on this subject. It is right to add that the Board of Trade had already to a considerable extent anticipated some of the recommendations made by the Commissioners, and I gladly recognise that, with regard to some others, much has already been effected by the care and forethought of shipowners themselves.