§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the British steamship Port Chalmers discharged her crew at the port of New York, United States of America, on 1st July last, and whether he is aware that the Consular shipping office at that port was besieged by a crowd of crimps and low character; that a seaman named Northstrom was violently assaulted and robbed of his wages in the said shipping office, and that no efforts were made to protect this seaman; whether he is aware that many complaints have been made with regard to such conduct at this office; and whether it is intended to give instructions to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General to exclude from the shipping office all persons except the captains and men?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (for Mr. RITCHIE)The Board of Trade are not aware of the circumstances of the case referred to in the Question, but inquiry shall be made. In reply to the second and third paragraphs of the Question, the Board are in communication with the Foreign Office and with the Consul General at New York, with a view to improving the conditions under which seamen on British ships are engaged and discharged at that port.