§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middles brough)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the alleged insubordination of certain Chinese seamen on board of the British steamer "Clam" at the port of South Shields on 8th July, when three Chinese firemen of this vessel were charged with assaulting the serang; whether he is aware that on a previous voyage sixteen Chinese seamen were sent to prison from this same steamer; and whether he will order inquiries to be made as to the causes of the frequent outbreaks on this vessel.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) My attention has been called to the prosecution and conviction at South Shields of three Chinese firemen belonging to the ss. "Clam" for assaulting the serang, and I am also informed that seventeen Chinamen who were members of the crew of this steamship were sentenced to one month's imprisonment at Dartmouth in April last. I understand from the owners that previously to these two cases no trouble was experienced with the crew of the vessel. I am not advised that an investigation is necessary upon the facts before me.