§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he is aware that a crew of seamen were engaged at Glasgow on 13th December, 182 1901, on the steamship "Miniah" to proceed to Alexandria, on the understanding that if the vessel was sold at that port, the owners would pay the cost of the men's passage home to the United Kingdom, and their wages, until arrival at a home port; whether he is aware that the British Consul at Alexandria compelled the crew to sign clear of the ship, although the captain was only paying them two days pay each, contrary to the provisions of the articles of agreement, which provided for a continuance of their wages until their return to the United Kingdom; and will he cause inquiries to be made into the matter, and insist on His Majesty's Consul at Alexandria paying over to the crew of the "Miniah" the wages they have lost in consequence of his action.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI am informed by the owners of the "Miniah," that the seamen discharged from that vessel at Alexandria (with the exception of one man, who, I understand, was left in Hospital) were given passages home, and have been paid their wages up to the date of their arrival in the United Kingdom, and this information is confirmed by the Consul with whom I communicated.