§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain persons at the port of Antwerp, who styled themselves as shipping masters or agents for British ships, are charging seamen fees from 7 francs up to 25 francs; whether he is aware that a seaman named G. H. Knox, of the "Ilwen," was compelled to pay a shipping master by the name of Cook 25 francs as shipping fees; and whether he will take steps to compel masters of ships to hand the advance note to seamen at the Consul's office at the time of the signing of the agreement.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The attention of the Board of Trade has been called to the fact that certain shipping masters at Antwerp charge seamen fees for obtaining them employment. I am informed that the seaman referred to by my hon. friend deserted his ship at Cardiff and that payment of his advance note was stopped, consequently no fee was received by the shipping master who found him employment on the "Ilwen." The Board of Trade have no power to compel masters to hand advance notes to seamen at the time of signing the agreement in cases where the seamen agree to enter into a private arrangement outside the consulate. The Board, with the assistance of the Consul-General, have endeavoured to discourage the irregular system prevailing at Antwerp, but I will consider whether any further useful steps can be taken in the matter.