HC Deb 24 June 1907 vol 176 cc894-5
MR. HAVELOCK WILSON

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the British steamer "Siberian," of 3,446 gross tonnage and 372 feet in length, engaged a crew at the port of Glasgow on the 10th instant; whether he is aware that only seven qualified able seamen were engaged, whereas on the previous voyage the same vessel carried sixteen able seamen; whether the "Siberian" is licensed to carry passengers, and how many passengers she carried when leaving Glasgow on the 10th instant; whether the owners complied with the regulations for emigrant ships which provide that a fixed number of qualified able seamen shall be carried on emigrant ships; and if he has received any report with regard to the manning of the "Siberian."

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE

The "Siberian" is a steamer of 3,846 tons gross and 372 feet long. She is licensed to carry passengers. She left Glasgow on the 12th inst. for Halifax via Liverpool. She had twelve A.B's with proven service. She also had six seamen who the emigration officer (who is a surveyor) was satisfied were bona fide A.Bs, but they could not prove the required service. One of them was a qualified seaman in the Naval Reserve and another was A.B. on a previous voyage. The vessel signed sixteen A.B's on her previous voyage, but eleven of those could not prove A.B's. service. She carried no passengers from Glasgow but embarked 653 at Liverpool, The regulations as to the manning of emigrant ships were complied with and no special report was required or made in the case.

MR. HAVELOCK WILSON

Arising out of that Answer, may I ask whether according to the regulations this vessel should have carried twenty-eight deck hands, of course including the officers, and whether, as it only carried twenty-two deck hands, the right hon. Gentleman can explain why the emigration officer allowed the ship to proceed shorthanded?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

I have really nothing to add to the Answer I have given, which was I think a very detailed one.

MR. HAVELOCK WILSON

I will call attention to this matter on the Estimates.