§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the evidence given at the New York coroner's court with regard to the circumstances under which 10 Chinese seamen jumped overboard from the "Strathyre," by which two men lost their lives; whether His Majesty's consul was represented at that inquiry; whether he sent a report of the proceedings to the Board; what action had been taken in the matter; whether he is aware that prior to the trouble at New York a Chinese trimmer had disappeared under strange circumstances at Suez, when the vessel was lying more than a mile from the shore, such trimmer being reported by the master as a deserter; whether he is aware that the remaining crew of Chinamen state that the trimmer in question committed suicide; and what steps the Board of Trade have taken to ascertain the actual facts with regard to the disappearance of this man?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy attention has been called to the proceedings at the New York coroner's court in connection with the deaths of two members of the Chinese crew of the "Strathyre." I am not aware whether His Majesty's Consul-General was represented at that inquiry, but full reports with regard to the whole matter have been received from him. The Consul-General caused inquiry to be made into the alleged grievances of the Chinese crew, but obtained no substantiation of their complaints, and, in view of the fact that a number of actions brought against the master of the "Strathyre" at South Shields by the Chinese seamen have been dismissed, it does not appear that any useful purpose would be served by pursuing the matter further. A Chinese fireman is reported in the official log book of the vessel to have deserted on the 14th October, 1907, at Suez, taking his effects with him. I have no reason to believe that the man -committed suicide, although 1510 I am aware that a vague suggestion to this effect was made by two Chinese seamen at the New York coroner's inquiry.
§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the whole of the evidence that was stated in the coroner's court in New York was shut out in the case at the South Shields police court, and that the magistrates who tried the case were members of the Shipping Federation, whose organisation is paying for the defence of the masters, and further, with regard to the answer relating to the man who committed suicide, has the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiries as to whether it was possible for a man to desert from the ship when over a mile from the shore?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think that the hon. Gentleman would expect me to express an opinion on the very serious question which he has raised as to the impartiality of the magistrates. If the matter is to be raised at all, I think it ought to be brought forward in the most formal manner, and that the hon. Member should put a question on the Paper on the subject. So far as the evidence given before the New York coroner is concerned we have had a full report of that at the Board of Trade, and we have informed ourselves on it and studied it. As to the distance of the ship from shore when the man disappeared we have no information.
§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONDid His Majesty's Consul at New York send over a copy of the evidence tendered in the coroner's court there, and a report of the coroner's remarks, in which he described the conduct of the captain as most inhuman?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLHis Majesty's Consul-General has sent a full report in regard to this matter.
§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONHave you had a copy of the evidence stated at the coroner's inquiry, and, if not, will yon obtain the evidence?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have informed the hon. Gentleman that we have received a full report. As to whether that report contains the evidence I will inquire.
§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONIf I furnish the right hon. Gentleman with a copy of the evidence will he take further steps—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is exceeding the usual bounds.