§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on 1st June the steamer "Maggie" engaged a crew at the port of Hull; whether he is aware that the deck hands engaged by the master of this vessel were eight in number, and only four were able to prove three years sea service; and whether he can state if the Board of Trade surveyor took any steps to ascertain whether the vessel was manned by a competent crew of seamen.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a vessel named the "Ethyl" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 7th June, and six of the crew were engaged as deck hands, only four out of the six being able to prove that they were qualified A.B.'s; and whether he has had from the Board of Trade surveyor any Report as to whether the ship was seaworthy with the crew that she engaged.
§ MR. JENKINS (Chatham)To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that the steamer ''Imperial Prince" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 6th June, 1907; whether he is aware that this vessel carried six deck hands and only three of that number were qualified A.B.'s in accordance with Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, sub-section 2; and whether any Report has been sent to his Department with regard to the under-manning of this vessel.
§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamer "Southella" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 6th June; whether he can state if this vessel was engaged in the Foreign trade; whether he is aware that the deck hands were four in number, and only two out of the four were qualified A.B.'s; and whether he has had a Report from the surveyor to the Board of Trade as to the manning of this ship.
§ MR. KILBRIDE (Kildare, S.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether he is aware that a steamer named the "Anna Moore" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 4th June, and out of the five deck hands engaged only two of that number were qualified A.B.'s; and whether he could state if the Board of Trade made any inquiries as to whether the vessel was seaworthy, in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Act.
§ MR. KILBRIDETo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamer "Otterspool" engaged a crew at the port of Hull on 4th June; whether he is aware that the deck hands numbered five, and only two of this number were qualified A.B.'s; and whether, in consequence, he has had any Report from the Board of Trade surveyor as to the seaworthiness of this vessel.
(Answered by Mr. Kearley.) I will reply to the six Questions together as they deal with the same subject. Inquiry has been made into each of the cases mentioned in the Questions. The details furnished from the ports do not differ very materially from those stated by 119 hon. Members. The Board of Trade requirements with regard to manning are as follows: "Foreign-going steamships of over 200 feet in length, or not less than 700 tons gross, when proceeding to sea should have, independently of the master and two mates, a sufficient number of deck hands available for division into two watches, so as to provide a minimum effective watch, viz. a competent man at the wheel, a look-out man, and an additional hand on deck available for any purpose." Those requirements were complied with. Had it been otherwise it would have been the duty of the local superintendents before whom the crews were engaged to call in the Board of Trade detaining officers to detain the ship.