§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the steamer "Campeador," official No. 109,421, recently signed on a crew at the port of Hamburg for the deck and engine-room department; whether he is aware that they were all Spaniards and unable to speak and understand the English language; and if he will make inquiries as to why the language test was not applied to this crew at the time of their engagement.
730 (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) With the exception of five officers (who were British) the members of the crew of the "Campeador" were Spaniards. The Consul-General at Hamburg is unable to give positive information as to the knowledge of English possessed by these Spaniards, as the officer before whom they were engaged has since left the office. The Consul-General however reports that strict orders were given by him on 1st January last for the enforcement of the language test, and he adds that all the officers of the company to which the "Campeador" belongs speak both English and Spanish.