HC Deb 02 May 1895 vol 33 cc273-4
MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the British steamship Ethel Radcliffe signed on a crow of foreign sailors and firemen before Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at the Port of Rotterdam on the 25th April instant, when the said sailors and firemen were charged three guilders each by the shipping master before they could get their advance notes; if he is aware that Her Majesty's Consul used his influence for the purpose of procuring those men at £3 per month for able seamen, and £3 5s. per month for firemen; and whether he is aware that, in consequence of the low wages paid, the police were called into the Consular Office to prevent a disturbance; whether the Government will consider the desirability of issuing instructions to Consuls in the Ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Hamburg to discontinue transacting business with shipping agents, either directly or indirectly; and what steps he will take to have the evidence of the crew of the Ethel Radcliffe taken before a Superintendent of the Board of Trade, as the vessel now lies in the Port of London?

SIR E. GREY

We have not heard anything of this case. Inquiry will be made of the Consul as to the facts.

MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to make inquiries from the crew of the vessel, as the vessel is now lying in the Port of London; and to have their evidence taken by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office before the men go away in their ship?

SIR E. GREY

It would not be for the Foreign Office to do that in any case, and we could not make any request to the Board of Trade to take that step until we have the facts before us.

MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON

I am pointing out a way by which the right hon. Gentleman can get the facts.

SIR E. GREY

The Foreign Office have no means of taking the course the hon. Member suggests.

MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON

then put the question to the President of the Board of Trade, but the right hon. Gentleman was not in his place at the moment.