§ Mr. JOHN WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri-beri of an Asiatic fireman named Noshee Balla, one of the crew of the ss. "Karonga," of North Shields, on 2nd November, 1908; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of beri-beri have occurred on this ship?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Tennant)Yes, Sir. The, man referred to by my hon. Friend died in hospital of beri-beri after harving received medical attention at Philadelphia and New York. The cause of beri-beri has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food may predispose to the disease. Inquiry was held by the Vice-Consul at New York, and further inquiry will be made, if possible, on the return of the vessel to this country. 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. As he was first tindal he doubtless had had previous sea service. No previous death from beri-beri occurred on board this vessel since July, 1905.
§ Mr. JOHN WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the supposed suicide at sea of an Asiatic fireman named Cheong Chung on the ss. "Moyune," of Liverpool, on 12th November, 1908; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he 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 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir. Inquiry was held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the pro-Consul at Shanghai, the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Victoria Docks and the principal 910 Board of Trade officer for London. The man had been medically examined and had had previous sea service. The surveyors report that the ventilation was satisfactory, and the work at the time of the man's disappearance is stated to have been light. The man disappeared on the day of leaving Labuan after coaling. The coal consumption was 43 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 16, including a spare man. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance in this vessel has been reported in the last three years.
§ Mr. STEADMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea on,14th November, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Sin Cheong, on the ss. "Kennebec," of London; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported upon the ventilation in the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were called upon to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide or disappearance have occurred on this ship?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir. Inquiry has been held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend, by the Vice-Consul at Port Said, and further inquiry will, if possible, be held on the return of the vessel to this country. I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined or had had previous sea service. As the vessel is trading between New York and the East, the Board's surveyors have not yet had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation of the stokehold. The owners state that the consumption of coal was 32 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 16. One previous case of suicide from this vessel has been reported in the last three years.
§ Mr. STEADMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 25th November, 1908, of an Asiatic trimmer named Vong Kay on the ss. "Trocas," of London; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined prior to joining the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were required to work each 24 hours; whether the 911 Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported on the ventilation of the stokehold; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir. Inquiry was held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the Vice-Consul at Shanghai, and further inquiry will, if possible, be held on the return of the vessel to this country; I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined or had had previous sea service. The coal consumption was 30 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 13. As the vessel is trading in the East, the Board of Trade Surveyors have not yet had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation of the stokehold. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance in this vessel has been reported during the last three years.
§ Mr. STEADMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 11th December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Sheik Emam Lull Choy on the ss. "China," of Belfast; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined prior to joining the vessel; whether he 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 fireman and trimmers were required to work in each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, missing, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir, inquiry was held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the Vice-Consul at Marseilles and the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Tilbury. I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined or had had previous sea service. He was acting as servant to the chief engineer, and had never been employed in the stokehold. The vessel is now abroad, and the Board of Trade surveyors have not had an opportunity of reporting on the ventilation of the stokehold since the man's disappearance. The coal consumption was 90 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 67. One previous case of suicide in this vessel has been reported during the last three years.
§ Mr. REESMay I ask whether the solicitude for the welfare of Asiatic seamen evidenced by this question is calculated to promote or to restrict their employment in British ships?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a matter of opinion.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea, on 6th December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Chong Yung, on ss. "Bendoran," of Leith; whether any inquiry has been held; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining the ship; whether he 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 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this ship?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir, inquiry has been held in the case referred to by my hon. Friend by the Vice-Consul at Marseilles, the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Poplar, and the Principal Board of Trade Officer for London. I am not aware whether the man had been medically examined, but he had had previous sea service. He had been off duty over a fortnight before his death, and had been seen by a doctor. The Board of Trade Surveyors reported satisfactorily on the ventilation of the stokehold, and were of opinion that the men were not specially hard worked. The consumption of coal was 25 tons of Welsh or 26 tons of Japanese coal, and the number of firemen and trimmers was nine, but there were three greasers and two spare firemen employed in the engine-room. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance in this vessel has been reported during the last three years.
§ Mr. REESDoes the Board of Trade receive at first hand, or from any recognised association representing Asiatic seamen, complaints of this character?
Mr. TENNANTNo. We receive no complaints, but when we have questions in the House we make inquiries of the owners of the vessels and get the information from them.
§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea, on 8th December, 1908, from beri- 913 beri, of an Asiatic seaman named Goofoy on the ss. "Karonga," of North Shields; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of deaths from beri-beri have occurred on this vessel?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir. The man referred to by my hon. Friend died at sea of beri-beri on a voyage from New York to the East, via Malta. The cause of beriberi has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food predisposes to the disease. Inquiry was held by the Acting-Collector of Customs at Malta, and further inquiry will, if possible, be made on the return of the vessel to this country. I am not aware whether Goofoy had had previous sea service. One previous death from beri-beri occurred on board this vessel.