HC Deb 19 October 1909 vol 12 cc126-7
Mr. REES

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the records of his office afford any evidence that Lascars are other than capable and courageous sailors; and whether any official estimate has been made of the extent to which, if their employment was decreased or abandoned, increased employment would be provided for Europeans?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Tennant)

The records of the Board of Trade show that no imputations can be made against the capability or courage of Lascar seamen in general. No such official estimate as that suggested by my hon. Friend has been made.

Mr. REES

Is there any ground for the suggestion that the abandonment of the use of Lascars would mean an increase in the use of British sailors, or whether it is not a fact that the exact contrary would be the case?

The HON. MEMBER

further asked whether, in regard to the deaths of Asiatic seamen upon the steamships "Queen Amelie" of Glasgow, "Clan Cunning" of Glasgow, "Arracan" of Glasgow, "Lord Kelvin" of Liverpool, "Indrani" of Liverpool, "Umlazi" of London, "Algeria" of Glasgow, "Zambesi" and "Changsha" of London, "Fultala" of Glasgow, "Visigoth" of Southampton, "Cardiganshire" of Liverpool, "Shimosa" of Liverpool, any complaints were made by the deceased seamen during their lives, or on their behalf after their death, or by or on behalf of any other seamen upon such ships; whether inquiries made by the Board prove that the heat in the engine-room is greater than Asiatic seamen are accustomed to bear, or such as to have caused or hastened their death; whether inquiries show that the owners of these vessels have not provided proper accommodation, proper food, and a proper complement of hands; and whether Europeans can perform the duties of boilermen and stokers in the Red Sea and other tropical waters?

Mr. TENNANT

There is no record of any complaint having been made by or on behalf of Asiatic seamen in connection with the vessels mentioned in the question during the last three years, and there is no evidence to show that the accommodation, food, or manning was defective. The evidence available does not admit of any general conclusions being formed such as those suggested by my hon. Friend. The matter was quite recently considered by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee, which reported that "after a close examination of the available statistics on the subject they could not arrive at any common conclusion as to the existence of any one prevailing cause for these lamentable deaths." Europeans do in many cases perform the duties of firemen in the Red Sea and other tropical waters.

Mr. J. O'GRADY

Has the Board of Trade any knowledge that any white sailors were employed in stokeholds at a temperature of 106 degrees?

Mr. TENNANT

There have been several cases of white Europeans engaged in stokeholds at the temperature named.

Mr. O'GRADY

Did they die?

Mr. TENNANT

No.

Mr. REES

Is it not a fact that larger numbers of European sailors would have to be confined at that temperature but for the fact that these Lascars were available?

Mr. TENNANT

The question whether Europeans are able to stand high temperatures better than Lascars is under my close personal examination at the present moment. I may inform the House that up to now my advisers have not been able to come to any conclusion on that subject.

Mr. JOHN O'CONNOR

Is it not a fact that quite recently a case has occurred in the law courts in which a man has, under the Workmen's Compensation Act, applied for and established a claim for damages because he suffered injuries through what was called by the courts a heat wave under the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member for Leeds (Mr. O'Grady)?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must give notice of that.