§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the shipping master at Liverpool or other ports has the power of asking for proof of service of persons tendering themselves as able seamen; and whether men are shipped as A.B.'s who have given no proof that they are so.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe superintendents at the ports are instructed to ask for proof of the service of persons proposed to be shipped as able seamen, and, if such proof is not forthcoming, to place the letters N.P. (not proved) against their name in the agreement. There is no doubt that a considerable number of men are shipped as A.B.'s who for some reason are not able to prove their service, but this, I am advised, is not a matter in which I have any power to interfere.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are to understand that the Board of Trade has no power to prevent masters from taking as members of their crews men who are not qualified as able seamen, and whether, if that is the case, this being such a serious matter, the right hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of acquiring such powers for his Department?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Board of Trade has no powers in this matter beyond what I have described to the hon. Gentleman. Whether we should go further is a matter for consideration.
§ COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)May I ask whether it is not the case that the Board of Trade have now adopted a form of continuous discharge which will in future very largely prove whether a man is an able seaman or not?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURYes, Sir, that is the case, and I hope the provisions with respect to a continuous discharge will operate usefully in that direction.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIn view of the number of ships being lost, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of obtaining powers for the Board of Trade—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order‡ The right hon. Gentleman has already answered that question.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIn consequence of the reply, and in view of the number of lives lost, I will at the earliest opportunity call attention to the question of the undermanning of ships by the shipping of men who are not sailors at all.