MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state how many seamen have died at the Port of Santos on board of British vessels during the year 1894, and how many British vessels are now lying at that port without crews, with only a portion of their crews, and the number and rating of all of such crews still remaining alive; whether he can state what remedy, if any, the relatives of deceased seamen may have against owners of vessels for compensation in cases where men have been taken to Santos against their will and desire, and died there; and if he will appoint a Select Committee of the House to inquire into the alleged serious loss of life on board British vessels at Santos during the past five years?
§ MR. BRYCEI am unable to give the information asked for in the first 765 paragraph of the hon. Member's question, but I will endeavour to obtain it from Her Majesty's Consul at Santos. Whether the relatives of deceased seamen taken to Santos against their will have any remedy against the shipowner, is a legal question on which it is not for me to express an opinion. The regrettable loss of life on British vessels at Santos does not seem to be one calling for the appointment of a Select Committee of the House, but the Board of Trade have issued repeated warnings as to the unhealthy condition of the port, and notices are posted up at the Mercantile Marine Offices where seamen sign articles.