§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the British steamer "Astoria" engaged a crew at the port of Glasgow on the 7th June, 1907, and that of the men engaged as deck hands only four were qualified able seamen; whether he is aware that on her previous voyage the same vessel carried fifteen able seamen, and that the "Astoria" is a vessel of 5,086 gross tonnage and is 437 feet in length and is licensed to carry passengers; whether he can state how many passengers were being carried when the vessel left Glasgow on the 7th instant; and whether the owners have complied with the regulations for emigrant ships which provide that a definite number of able seamen shall be carried on all emigrant and passenger ships; and has any official report been received with regard to the manning of the "Astoria."
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe "Astoria" is a steamship of the gross tonnage and length stated in the Question and is licensed to carry passengers. She cleared from Glasgow on the 7th instant, with 744 passengers. She had nine A.B's. with proven services, and thirteen seamen with services not proven. The emigration officer was satisfied that these thirteen seamen were all bona fide A.B's., as far as their efficiency went. One of them 896 was known to the officer as having been a long time in the same service, and was promoted to be boatswain, and another was signed A.B. on her previous voyage. The emigration officer (who is a surveyor) was satisfied that at the time of clearance the regulations regarding manning were complied with, and no special report was required or made in the case. The vessel on her previous voyage shipped eleven seamen with proved service as A.B's. and eleven seamen not so proven.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that this vessel, according to the emigrant regulations, ought to carry thirty-five men on deck, including officers, and whether as a matter of fact it only carried twenty-seven, and whether that was reported to the Board of Trade, and whether the ship went away short-handed?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThat is not in accordance with my information.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI shall call attention to this also on the Estimates.