§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Hugh M'Garvie, an able seaman, was injured on board the s.s. "Cumbal," of London, on 19th April, 1905, whilst this vessel was at anchor in Punta Arenas, in the Straits of Magellan, in consequence of the ladder leading to the ship's hold being what is described as a dangerous ladder; and whether, seeing that on his return to the United Kingdom the sum of £4 18s. was deducted from his wages to defray the cost of his passage home, he will make inquiries into the matter and order the money to be refunded to M'Garvie.
1241 (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) As this man was not shipped in the United Kingdom the owners of the vessel are not liable under Section 207 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, for the cost of his conveyance to this country. The expense, therefore, falls upon the man's wages, and I regret that I am unable to order the refund of the money. It is proposed by the Merchant Shipping Bill now before the House to extend the liability of shipowners so as to cover cases of this kind.