§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state why the Board of Trade official at Penarth, who signed on Russian and Swedish seamen on board the s.s. "Treveau," on 12th December 1898, insisted upon an interpreter being present; whether this interpreter could speak both Russian and Swedish, and was a person duly qualified to discharge the function of an interpreter; and whether he can give his name and address?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (for Mr. RITCHIE)An 1452 interpreter was insisted upon by the Board of Trade officer at Penarth in the case of the "Treveau," because the Russian seamen engaged did not know English. The interpreter employed was Michael Poll, a Russian Finn, of 3, South Londown Place, Cardiff, who appeared to have an adequate knowledge of Russian. It was not necessary for him to know Swedish, as the Swede engaged appeared to understand the agreement.