§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what alterations, if any, have been made in Her Britannic Majesty's Consular Shipping Office at New York, United States of America, 624 with regard to the engagement and discharge of seamen; whether instructions have been given to exclude all crimps, boarding-house keepers, and others from such office during the time of the engagement or discharge of seamen; whether seamen now receive their advance notes in the Consulate; whether shipping fees are still exacted from seamen by crimps; and whether police officers have been engaged to maintain order and prevent seamen being assaulted whilst transacting business in the shipping office?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEI am unable to add anything to the reply given on Monday by my right honourable Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONMay I ask when we are likely to get a reply to this Question?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEI have already informed the honourable Gentleman that I cannot add anything to the reply given on Monday last.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONWill the right honourable Gentleman give instructions to the Consular officers to see that these things are conducted in a proper manner?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe honourable Gentleman must be aware, from the reply given to this Question, that the attention of the Foreign Office has been directed to this matter, and they are now inquiring into it.