§ MR. NANNETTITo ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamship "Ovingdean Grange" engaged a crew at Cardiff on May 20th, 1904, and, after making a voyage to the River Plate and other places, discharged part cargo at London and Hull and the remainder at Newcastle, and then proceeded to Tyne Dock and loaded bunker coal for Antwerp, where the crew was paid off and foreigners shipped in their places; and whether, in view of the effect of this practice in displacing British labour by foreigners, he intends to take any steps to prevent, as far as possible, the engagement of foreign crews for British ships at Continental ports.
(Answered by Mr. Honor Law.) The movements of the "Ovingdean Grange" are correctly stated in the Question. The Board of Trade have no information as to the discharge of part of the cargo at London or Hull. The crew for the first voyage consisted of twenty-one British and nine foreign seamen, for the second of thirteen British and nineteen foreign seamen. We have no power to take any steps such as are indicated in the last Question.