§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea from heart failure, on 15th March, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer named Goolan Hossein Cassum, aged 17, whilst serving on the steamer "Knight Templar," 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 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; what were the respective ages of the other coal trimmers employed; whether the engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any previous cases of death from heart failure, heat-stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. The coal-trimmer boy referred to in the question died of heart failure six days after leaving Cardiff on a return voyage to Bombay. He 605 was medically examined before joining and had been on the vessel three months and nineteen days, but I am not aware whether he had had any previous sea service. At the time of his death he had been off duty since noon on the previous day. The temperature of the engine-room on the day before he died was 80 degrees, of the stokehold 94 degrees, and of the bunkers 78 degrees Fahr. The owners state that the coal consumption was 34 tons 10 cwt. per day, and that the vessel carried 23 firemen and trimmers. I have no information as to the ages of the other coal trimmers. The engineer's log-book has not yet been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors, and they have not yet had an opportunity of visiting the vessel since the boy's decease, but full inquiries will be made in the case on the vessel's return to this country, and the result communicated to my hon. Friend. Two other deaths from heart trouble, one from cardiac failure following influenza, and the other from heart disease and dropsy, have occurred among members of the crew of this vessel during the last three years, but no cases of death from heat-stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or of disappearance during that period have been reported.
§ Mr. J. D. REESHas any complaint been made by or on behalf of any of the Asiatic seamen referred to in the questions?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt may be, but I have answered the questions on the Paper.
§ Mr. REESWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether any complaints are made in respect of the ships and shipowners to which and to whom reference has been made?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, if my hon. Friend will put down a question.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea from heat exhaustion and heart failure, on 13th May, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Kootoobdeen Peerbux, whilst serving on the steamer "Caledonia," of Greenock; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long had he served on the vessel, and whether he had any previous sea 606 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 deaths from heart failure, heat stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. The fireman Kootoobdeen Peerbux is reported to have died of heart failure and heart exhaustion after suffering from malarial fever. At the time of his death the ship was only five days out from Bombay, at which port he bad joined. The owners state that all the men on their ships are medically examined before joining, that Kootoobdeen Peerbux had had considerable experience as fireman, although not on the "Caledonia," and that when taken ill he was on duty in the engine room, the temperature of which was 112 deg. The amount of coal worked daily was 125 tons. The engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors. One other death (that of an able seaman) has occurred among the members of the crew during the last three years front heart failure, and also one (that of a trimmer) from an aneurism. No cases of death from heat-stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or of disappearance have occurred during that period.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDo I understand that the temperature in the stokehold was 110 degrees?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo. When he was taken ill he was on duty in the engine-room, the temperature of which was 112 degrees.
§ Mr. W. THORNEThat is enough to kill anyone.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLAs the temperature of the engine-room was 112 degrees, does the right hon. Gentleman infer from that the temperature of the stokehold was considerably higher?
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEAre there any regulations for ventilation in the stokehold?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have given all the facts as I received them.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an outbreak 607 of beriberi on the steamer "Singapore," of London, manned by Lascars, on the passage from New Orleans to Antwerp; if he has any official information showing that five of the Lascar seamen died from this disease on the passage, and six had to be put in hospital on the arrival of the ship at Antwerp; that the cause of the outbreak was the bad quality and insufficiency of the food; will he say whether these Asiatics were medically examined before joining, and how long they had served on the ship; and whether any previous cases of deaths from this disease have occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy attention was called to the outbreak of beri-beri to which my hon. Friend alludes, and the Board of Trade ordered an inquiry to be held under the provisions of Sub-section (b), Section 728, Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. Upon receipt of the report of that inquiry, I will furnish the hon. Member with the information which he desires. No previous deaths from beri-beri have been reported on board the steamer "Singapore."
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLUnder the Section quoted is the power of the Board of Trade to appoint an inspector to inquire into the causes of accidents or damage, and also whether the whole machinery of any steamship is sufficient and in good condition, and as to what that has to do with the disease of beri-beri?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have only inquired into the conditions which prevail on board this ship?
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLDoes the Section give power to the right hon. Gentleman to appoint an inspector to inquire into a disease of this character?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is a question of law.
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the alleged improper feeding of the Lascar crew of the steamer "Langdale," of Liverpool, during her last voyage, and to the alleged assault on one of the Lascars when he stated the food was not good; whether any inquiry will be instituted into the matter by the Board of Trade; whether these Asiatics have now been discharged from the vessel; and, if so, whether the 608 master has made proper provision for their return to their own country, as required by Section 125 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894; and whether any cases of death from beri-beri, consumption, heat stroke, heart failure, suicide, or disappearance have ever occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo allegations as to improper feeding were made to any officer of the Board of Trade, nor have any come to my notice with regard to this vessel. I have no information as to the alleged assault on one of the Asiatic seamen, but one of them was convicted at the Thames Police Court on the 18th instant of an assault on the first mate, and was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. The Asiatic seamen have not been discharged, but have proceeded with the vessel. In any event, Section 125 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, would not apply to these men, as they were engaged at Colombo and not in India. No cases of death from beri-beri, heat stroke, heart failure, suicide, or disappearance, have occurred on the vessel since she was registered in 1903; there has been one case of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.