§ MR. M'GHEE (Louth, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state whether the Prince Line steamship "Afghan Prince" is a British registered vessel; whether he can state the total number of her crew, including all ratings, carried on her voyage commencing on the 6th December 1898; how many of the navigating officers were foreigners, and what were their respective nationalities; and how many foreigners were carried on this vessel, and what were their respective nation- 1132 alities; and whether he can state the rate of wages paid to the able seamen and firemen?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonYes, Sir, the "Afghan Prince" is a British vessel registered at the port of Newcastle. I am informed that the total number of her crew for the voyage commencing at Antwerp on the 6th December last was 36, but two of the men were engaged in London on the 13th December. Of the four navigating officers, one was Danish, one Norwegian, one German, and one British. I am informed that they all hold Board of Trade masters' certificates. In addition to the three foreign officers, 26 of the crew were foreigners, namely:—Five Belgians, five Germans, three Danes, three Austrians, three Norwegians, three Swedes, one Turk, one Greek, one Finn, and one Swiss. The birthplace of one member is given as St. Vincent, as his name is John McKenzie he is presumed to be British. The wages paid to the able seamen was £3 per month, and to the firemen £3 10s. per month. I think it only right to add that 34 of the 36 members of the crew were engaged at a foreign port, namely, Antwerp.