§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any Report from Her Majesty's Consul General at the port of New York in reference to alleged abuses in and at the consular shipping office at that port; whether any steps have been taken to prevent crimps and so-called shipping masters frequenting the consular shipping offices during the time seamen are being engaged on and discharged from British vessels; and whether anything has been done to prevent exorbitant shipping fees being charged upon seamen seeking employment in British vessels?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonI am still in communication with the Consul General at New York with regard to the points referred to in the Question. Until I receive a further Report I am not in a position to make any definite statement on the subject.