§ MR. NANNETTII beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause an inquiry to be made respecting the treatment of the crew of the "Ancona" by the master and first and second officers, who assaulted several of the crew during the voyage from Tacoma to Hamburg.
I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a seaman named Henry Herbert, engaged on the British sailing vessel "Ancona" on 18th February of this year at Tacoma, and that shortly after joining the vessel he was assaulted by the chief mate and a boarding master named Ryan; whether he is aware that Herbert immediately complained to the master, asking his permission to go on shore to report the matter to His Majesty's Consul, which permission the master refused and left Tacoma without giving him an opportunity of having the boarding master arrested for the assault; and will he take steps at once to hold an inquiry into the matter.
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURIn reply to this and the following question, I can only say that the Board of Trade have no information with regard to the matters to which the hon. Member refers, but inquiries shall be made.