HC Deb 16 September 1909 vol 10 cc2309-15
Mr. W. THORNE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri-beri, on 11th November, 1908, of an Asiatic fire- man named Sebathella, whilst serving on the steamer "Clan Macalister," of Glasgow; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he can state how long the seaman had served on the vessel, and whether he was medically examined before joining; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

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

Yes, Sir; the fireman Serang Sebathella died of beri-beri on board the "Clan Macalister," near Bangkok. The native log-book containing particulars of the occurrence was delivered up to the authorities at Chittagong. The vessel is now at Philadelphia. The cause of beriberi has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food predisposes to the disease. I have, however, arranged for a medical inquiry in a case which recently occurred, and hope that some useful information may be elicited as to the cause and treatment of the disease. In the present case the owners state that the food supplied was considerably in excess of the official scale. I am not aware how long the man had served in this vessel, but as he was serang it is probable that he had had previous sea service. He had been medically examined before joining. No deaths from beri-beri on board this steamer except those which occurred at Bangkok have been reported during the last three years.

Mr. W. THORNE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from consumption on 21st March, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Sk Ebrahim Sk Mahomed, whilst serving on the steamer "Singapore," of London; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether steps were taken to isolate him from the rest of the crew; what was the temperature of the engine room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir. The fireman referred to in the question was believed to be suffering from acute rheumatism, and was put off duty on 8th February, but died of consumption on 21st March. He was shipped at Bombay in accordance with the regulations, and had served three months and 29 days on board. He had been medically examined before joining, but was not isolated during his illness. The temperature of the stokehold was not recorded, but the man had not been in the stokehold for some time before his death. The number of firemen and trimmers was 15, and the average consumption of coal 24 tons per day. No previous death from consumption has occurred on board this vessel during the last three years.

Mr. W. THORNE

asked the President of the. Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from phthisis, on 29th December, 1908, of an Asiatic fireman named Man Kai, whilst serving on the steamer "Peleus," of Liverpool; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether steps were taken to isolate him from the rest of the crew; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir; the fireman Man Kai died on board the "Peleus" of phthisis about 6 weeks after leaving Liverpool on a voyage to Japan. He was attended by the ship's surgeon, but I am not aware whether he was isolated during his illness; he had been medically examined before sailing, and had served over seven months in the "Peleus" after reshipment. The temperature of the engine-room was from 83 degrees to 92 degrees, and of the stokehold 86 degrees to 92 degrees. The total coal consumption averaged 62 tons per day. No previous death from phthisis has occurred on board this vessel during the last three years.

Mr. W. THORNE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea, on 2nd November, 1908, of an Asiatic coal trimmer, named Arfanallee Kabeer, whilst serving on the steamer "Cardiganshire," of Liverpool; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long had he served on the vessel, and whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir. The man had had no previous sea service, and had only been three days in the ship when he jumped overboard during his watch. He had been medically examined. It appears from an extract from the engineer's logbook, which was produced to the Board of Trade surveyors, that the average temperature of the engine-room and bunkers was 102 degs. and of the stokehold 104 degs. on the day of the occurrence. The coal worked per man was about 1½ tons in 24 hours. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel during the last three years.

Mr. W. THORNE

May I ask whether there is any means of preventing the temperature of the stokeholds being of such excessive heat?

Mr. TENNANT

This is a very difficult matter, and is one which has engaged the attention of the Board of Trade for a considerable time past. Inquiries are constantly being made, and instructions are, as far as possible, given that stokeholds shall be ventilated in the best possible manner.

Mr. T. SUMMERBELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri-beri of an Asiatic coal trimmer, named Rohamattola, on 16th November, 1908, whilst serving on s.s. "Clan Macalister," of Glasgow; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he can state how long the seaman had served on the vessel; whether he was medically examined before joining; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir. The trimmer referred to in the question died of beriberi on board the "Clan Macalister" at Bangkok. The native log - book containing particulars of the occurrence was delivered up to the authorities at Chitta-gong. The vessel is now at Philadelphia. The cause of beri-beri has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food predisposes to the disease. In this case the owners state that the food was considerably in excess of the official scale. I am not aware how long the man had served on board the vessel; he had been medically examined before joining. No deaths from beri-beri on board this steamer, except those which occurred at Bangkok, have been reported during the last three years.

Mr. REES

May I ask whether any complaints were made by any of these Asiatics before their death or by their representatives after their death as regards the food or accommodation?

Mr. TENNANT

No, Sir, not so far as I am aware. I have, stated that the food was in excess of the scale.

Mr. D. KILBRIDE

May I ask whether the improper food of these seamen was Chinese pork?

Mr. TENNANT

No, Sir, I am not aware that it was Chinese pork, nor was I informed it was improper food.

Mr. W. THORNE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if these seamen make complaints about the food they are persecuted?

Mr. SUMMERBELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from beri-beri of an Asiatic fireman named How Luk, on 12th March, 1909, whilst serving on the steamer "Courtfield," of London; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he can state how long the seaman had served on the vessel, and whether he was medically examined before joining; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir. The fireman How Luk was taken ill on 1st February on a voyage from Sydney to Antwerp, and died on board the "Courtfield" on 12th March, two days after arrival in port. The symptoms were like those of rheumatism, but the port doctor pronounced the disease to be polymyelitis, or beri-beri. The cause of beri-beri has not yet been definitely ascertained, but it is probable that bad and insufficient food predisposes to the disease. I have, however, no reason to suppose that the food on board the "Courtfield" was bad or insufficient. The man had been on board for three months and twelve days, and had been medically examined before joining. No other death from beri-beri on board this vessel has been reported during the last three years.

Mr. SUMMERBELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 22nd February, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer, named Meajan Tajan, whilst serving on the steamer "Baron Fairlie," of Ardrossan; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any other cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir. The man had been medically examined before joining, and had been on board for three months and nine days, but I am not aware whether he had had previous sea service. He was not on duty at the time of his disappearance. The number of firemen and trimmers was 14, and the coal consumption was 22 tons per day. As, the vessel has not been in the United Kingdom since the date of the occurrence the Board of Trade surveyors have not yet had an opportunity of seeing the engineer's log or ascertaining the temperatures, but the owners state that the temperature of the engine-room was 95 degrees. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel during the last three years.

Mr. SUMMERBELL

Do I understand, when the engineer's log is examined, a reply will be sent stating what it states?

Mr. TENNANT

I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as we get the information.

Mr. SUMMERBELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea of Wong Pui, a Lascar fireman, on 24th March, 1909, whilst serving on the steamship "Laertes," of Liverpool; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining, and how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any other cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes, Sir; the fireman Wong Pui disappeared two days after joining the "Laertes" at Hong Kong for her voyage to Amsterdam. He appears to have had previous sea service, and had been medically examined before joining. I am not aware whether he was on duty at the time of his disappearance. The owners report that the temperature of the engine-room was from 106 degrees to 110 degrees, and of the stokehold 96 degrees to 100 degrees, and that the coal consumption was about 44 tons per day. No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel during the last three years.

Mr. SUMMERBELL

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether, having regard to the temperature in this case, he intends to take any action?

Mr. JOHN DILLON

Are there no regulations to enable the Board of Trade to see such inhumanity is stopped?

Mr. TENNANT

I agree the temperature in this case was unduly high. I will make inquiries and see if something can be done.

Mr. G. J. WARDLE

If the hon. Gentleman has no power in the matter, will he consider the advisability of introducing legislation?

Mr. TENNANT

I must make inquiries first before I can give any pledge.