§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Board of Trade is considering the subject of the statutory accommodation allocated to Lascar seamen, they will take into consideration part II., section 124, of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and state whether such section does provide that the provision of the Act respecting agreements applies to all seamen whether engaged in a British possession or in a foreign port?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (for Mr. RITCHIE)The section does so provide subject to the 'modifications contained in the section, and any qualifications arising from local legislation based on Imperial law.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)May I ask whether, in the case of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, who have steamers sailing from London to Australia and back, the shipping of Lascars in India is not an evasion of the Merchant Shipping Act?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTUREI am informed that that is one of the points on which the Board of Trade is unable at present to express a definite opinion. The whole question is now being considered by the Board of Trade in order to ascertain precisely the state of the law.
§ DR. CLARKMay I take it, then, that when they get the information they will prosecute the Peninsular and Oriental Company?
§ [No Reply.]
§ President of Board of Agriculture.