§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea of a trimmer named Abdool Momd Massislat, on the ss. "Karonga," of North Shields, on 19th September, 1908; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported upon the ventilation of the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were required to work in each twenty-four hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance amongst stokehold hands have occurred on this ship.
§ MR. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. Inquiry was held by the Acting Consul-General at Algiers in the case referred to by my hon. friend. The man was shipped at Calcutta, and I am informed that it is the practice for the crews of all vessels belonging to the owners of the "Karonga" to be medically examined when engaged at Calcutta, but I am not aware whether this particular man had been so examined or had had previous sea service. As the vessel has not returned to the United Kingdom since the date of the occurrence, the Board of Trade Surveyors have not yet had an opportunity of reporting upon the ventilation of the stockhold. The coal consumption was forty-three tons, and the number of firemen and trimmers was eighteen. One previous case of disappearance from this vessel has been reported.