§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the total number of passengers from the United States landed from foreign steamers in Queens-town since the 10th June of this year; how many of these passengers are in excess of the numbers allowed by the British Passengers Act; and whether, in each case, there was an examination of the vessel by Board of Trade officials?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.I am told that 486 passengers from the United States have been landed at Queenstown from foreign steamers since June 10, and I have no reason to believe that any one of these steamers carried passengers in excess of the number allowed by the Passengers Acts. These vessels only remain at or outside the harbour of Queenstown about half-an-hour, and no special examination is made. In any case in which there is reason to suppose that the statutory number will be found to have been exceeded, such an examination would at once be directed.
§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELLBut are not all British vessels calling at Queenstown to embark passengers inspected?
§ MR. BRYCEanswered, that, whereas on the outward passage vessels remain some time at Queenstown inside the harbour, where an examination could be made, on the homeward voyage they generally landed their passengers outside the harbour, and remained only a very short time, having to go on to Liverpool. Under such circumstances, therefore, an examination would be attended with great difficulty.