§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the death of a fireman, named 1158 Townsend, on board the ss. "Gathorne"; whether he is aware that, although this man complained of being ill for several days, he was compelled by the chief engineer and the master to continue at work; and that, in consequence of the treatment which he received at the hands of the chief engineer, Townsend jumped overboard and was drowned: and whether he intends to have this case thoroughly investigated on the arrival of the "Gathorne" in the United Kingdom.
§ *MR. GERALD BALFOURYes, Sir, my attention has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers, and I have already instructed the Solicitor to the Board of Trade to make arrangements for the holding of an inquiry by a Superintendent of Mercantile Marine under Section 690 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, on the return of the "Gathorne" to this country.