§ MR. G. W. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, considering that portions of the Report of the Commission to inquire into the manning of the; Mercantile Marine have been published in various newspapers, he will soon let the Members of this House have the whole Report?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Report of the Manning Committee was presented on 661 Monday last and (together with the minutes of evidence, appendices and digest) is now in the hands of the printers.
§ SIR ARTHUR FORWOODMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will take measures to prevent the further passage of the Merchant Seamen (Employment Rating) Bill until he has had an opportunity of considering the Report of the Committee?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have no hesitation in assuring my right hon. Friend that the Government will resist any attempt to proceed with this Bill. They consider that if legislation ought to take place on the Report of the Committee it ought to proceed from the Government.
§ *MAJOR JAMESONHow did the Report get into the newspapers before it was in the hands of Members of this House?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have no doubt it was communicated to the newspapers.
§ *MAJOR JAMESONBy whom?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have no idea, but I should not be surprised if it was done by the Board of Trade.