§ MR. NANNETTITo ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of a seaman, named Bengtson, who engaged on the British steamship "Ovid," at Yokohama, on October 25th, 1904, and, in consequence of injuries received in the service of the ship, was discharged at Batavia on December 5th, the master paying him the balance of wages due; and will he explain, in view of Section 207 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, why, on Bengtson's arrival in London on February 27th, 1905, he was informed by the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office, Victoria Docks, that the balance of his wages, namely, £6 1s. 4d., for which he applied, had been used for the purpose of defraying the cost of his passage and maintenance to England.
(Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) The Board of Trade are making inquiries into this matter, and when they are concluded a communication shall be addressed to the hon. Member.