MR. HEYWOOD JOHNSTON (Sussex, Horsham)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now see his way to act upon the Report of the Departmental Committee appointed by him, as President of the Board of Trade in 1896, to consider the question of the engagement and discharge of British 545 seamen at Continental ports within the home trade limits, by adopting their recommendation that fees charged for remittances under the money order and transmission systems should be abolished.
(Answered by Mr. Ritchie.) The advisability of acting on the recommendation alluded to by the hon. Member has been more than once considered. Having regard to the results that might be expected if it were adopted, and also to the fact that the larger part of the expenses in connection with remittances is already met out of the Votes, I do not feel justified in incurring the extra expenditure that would be occasioned.