§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been held into the disappearance at sea on 25th November, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Abdooramon Bazeer Alee, whilst serving on the steamer "Cardium," of London; whether the seaman was on duty at the time; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had had any previous sea service; how much 239 coal the engine-room hands were required to work each twenty-four hours; what was the temperature of the engine-room and stokehold; whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received; what was the cost of provisions supplied to him each month; whether any compensation had been paid to the dependants; and, if not, whether he would take steps to inform them of their rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906?
§ Mr. TENNANTInquiries have been held by the deputy shipping master at Port Natal and by the chief superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Dock Street, London, into the disappearance of the seaman mentioned in the question. He was on duty when he disappeared. He was serving as a fireman's cook, and, therefore, the information relative to employment in the engine-room and stokehold referred to by my hon. Friend has not been obtained. One case of the supposed suicide of a fireman has occurred on this vessel during the last three years. I have no information as regards the other matters referred to by my hon. Friend, and it is not within my province to take action in the direction suggested in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been held into the disappearance at sea, on 2nd October, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Lai Yu, whilst serving on the steamer "Bellerophon," of Liverpool; whether he was on duty at the time; whether he was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had had any previous sea service; how many tons of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each twenty-four hours; what was the temperature of the engine-room and stokehold; whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received, and what was the cost of the provisions supplied to him each month; whether any compensation had been paid to the dependents; and, if not, whether he would inform them of their rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906?
§ Mr. TENNANTInquiries have been held into the disappearance of the fireman mentioned in the question by the harbour master at Penang by the super- 240 intendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Victoria Docks, London, and by a surveyor of the Board of Trade. The man was employed in the engine-room on light duties at the time of his disappearance. He had not been employed firing for a considerable time. He was medically examined before joining and had served on the vessel about six months. He is reported to have had six and a half years' previous sea service. About 68 tons of coal are burned each day, and twenty-nine firemen and trimmers are carried. About the time of Lai Yu's disappearance the temperature of the engine-room was 110 deg. and of the stokehold 108 deg. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide or disappearance has occurred on this vessel during the last three years. I have no information as regards the other matters referred to by my hon. Friend, and it is not within my province to take action in the direction suggested in the last part of the question.