HC Deb 22 February 1900 vol 79 cc806-7
MR. HAYELOCK WILSON

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of Asiatic able seamen and the number of Asiatics engaged in the stokehold and engine-room of the Peninsular and Oriental steamship "Australia"; whether he can state the number of places provided for the accommodation and appropriated for the use of such persons; whether he can state the cubical space and the number of superficial feet measured on the dock or floor provided for each man; and whether he can state if the Peninsular and Oriental Company are now complying with the 210th section of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894; and, if not, whether he intends to institute legal proceedings against the said company for such default,

MR. RITCHTE

The number of Asiatic seamen employed on the Peninsular and Oriental steamer "Australia" is fifty-one, and the number of Asiatics engaged in the stokehold and engine-room is ninety. The number of places provided for these men is two, one on the starboard and one on the port side of the poop. The cubic space provided per man is in each case rather over 72 feet. The floor area per man is a little over 9 feet. As regards the cubic space, the Imperial Act is complied with, but, as regards the floor area there is a deficiency, which will require to be remedied if deduction from the registered tonnage is to continue to be allowed. I have already explained to the hon. Members that having regard to all the circumstances of the case I do not propose at present to institute legal proceedings.

MR. HAVELOCK WILSON

I beg to give the right hon. Gentleman notice; that I shall call attention to this matter on the Estimates.