§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the number of Lascars employed as sailors, firemen, and coal trimmers on board the Peninsular and Oriental steamship "Australia," which is due to sail from London on the 23rd instant, and whether he can state how many cubic feet of space is provided for each Lascar in the forecastle of this vessel; whether the said vessel is a British ship registered in the United Kingdom, and whether the crew of this vessel has allotted to them the cuble accommodation as provided by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894; and whether he can state if the forecastle of this vessel has been inspected by Board of Trade officials during the time she has been in dock?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (for Mr. RITCHIE)As some points of difference have arisen between the officers of the Board of Trade and the Peninsular and Oriental Company as to the actual measurements of the "Australia," and as to the numbers of her Lascar crew, I will ask the honourable Member to postpone his Question for a day or two until the Board of Trade are in possession of more complete information.
§ MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)Will the Government discourage the employment of coloured labour in vessels receiving a Government subsidy.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTUREIt is obvious that I cannot give any undertaking in the absence of my right honourable Friend.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI will put a further Question on Friday.