§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has received any report respecting the imprisonment of the firemen of the steamship "Mab," at the Canadian port Rimouski; whether he is aware that these men refused to work, coal being part cargo to be shifted in the bunkers after one o'clock on Saturday afternoon; and that, although it is the custom on British ships for the firemen to cease work in port at one clock on Saturday afternoon, the master put the men in irons, and kept them lying on deck seven hours; and, seeing that this master has had trouble with his men on board other British vessels, whether he will cause inquiry to be made with regard to the treatment of the firemen of the "Mab" by the master.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURNotice of the hon. Member's question was the first intimation I received of the case to which he refers. From inquiries I have made it appears that five firemen of the "Mab" refused duty and became violent, one even attempting to throw the master overboard. They were put in irons until the arrival of the police. In the district magistrate's court at Rimouski the men were convicted. One was sent to prison for eight days, and all forfeited two days pay. A counter charge was brought against the master by the firemen, but was dismissed. The Board of Trade have nothing recorded against the master.