§ MR. J. H. WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the written statement of the crew of the steamship Portuguese Prince, now trading between Rio Santos and Baki, and if he is aware that the crew of the said vessel states that her engines 764 and boilers are in a defective and unseaworthy condition, and were so when she last left the United Kingdom; if his attention has been called to the treatment which the boatswain of the said vessel received at the hands of the captain in consequence of his protestation that the engines and boilers were defective; if he is also aware that some of the crew of this vessel died of cholera or malarial fever; if his attention has also been directed to the statement made by the crew with reference to the drinking water, which was pumped into the tanks direct from the River Plate; and what steps he will take to cause a thorough investigation of the charges made by the crew of the said vessel?
§ MR. BRYCEThe only information which the Board of Trade have received is contained in a letter received from the hon. Member on the 4th inst. Upon the receipt of that letter, Her Majesty's Consuls at Rio de Janeiro and Santos were requested to report fully upon all the matters complained of; and I have given instructions that when the vessel returns to this country, the fact shall be at once reported, so that if necessary further inquiry may be made. I have this moment received a telegram stating that the owners of the vessel do not admit the facts to be as alleged in the question, and that they are forwarding a statement to me on the subject.