§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the action of Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Iquique, who imprisoned a seaman, named Robert Gardener, for twenty-one days without trial before any tribunal; whether he is aware that, at the end of the voyage, the master of the sailing ship "Dalblair" deducted from Gardener's wages £9 to cover the cost of this imprisonment; whether it is the intention of the Board of Trade to make any representations to the Foreign Office to have this Consul removed for his action, and to order the owners of the "Dalblair" to refund the wages deducted from Robert Gardener.
§ MR. RITCHIEMy attention has been called by the hon. Member himself to the case of the "Dalblair," and the Consul at Iquique has boon requested to forward a report with regard to the circumstances so far as they came within his cognizance. So soon as a reply is received from the Consul a communication shall be sent to the hon. Member.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONHas a Consular officer power to send seamen to prison without trial?
§ MR. RITCHIEI think the hon. Gentleman had better put legal questions on the Paper.