§ Mr. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any complaints were made by or on behalf of the deceased Asiatic coal-trimmer, Ali Mahomed Rajan; the Asiatic fireman, Annasalla Cadis Mahd; and the Asiatic fireman, Shibatoola Romeezoola, of the steamers "Mahronda," of Liverpool; "Arracan," of Glasgow; and "City of London," of Glasgow, respectively; and whether he has any official information showing that the crews of these steamers have complained, or have cause of complaint, of their treatment by the masters and owners concerned?
The HON. MEMBERalso asked whether any complaints or claims for compensation have been made by or on behalf of the deceased Asiatic seamen, Vue Yu Ahu and Woo Chin Za, of the "Prometheus," Liverpool; of the deceased Asiatic, Rasan Ghalib, of the "Tangistan," of Swansea; of the deceased Asiatic seaman, Riman Hussein, of the "Macedonia," of Belfast; and of the deceased Asiatic fireman, Dong Chup, of the "Chatham," of London; and whether he has any official information showing that the crews of these steamers have complained, or have cause of complaint, against the masters and owners concerned?
Mr. BUXTONNo complaints have reached me with regard to any of the cases to which he calls attention. But I desire to add that any bonâ fide representations made from any quarter in regard to the conditions under which firemen and others on board ship work will always receive my consideration.
§ Mr. REESMay I ask whether particulars upon which this question are framed are not available in the Official Returns which have been published, and whether the statistics do not show that violent deaths and suicides are fewer proportionately among Asiastic than European sailors?
Mr. BUXTONI do not think that is the point. The allegation is that, under certain conditions of temperature in certain hulls under which these firemen and others work, there is a tendency to commit suicide. What I pointed out was that I do not think it is necessary for me or the Board of Trade to wait to get representations from the crews themselves. So long as we get bonâ fide representations upon the matter, we say it is 986 our duty to consider the representations and to examine them carefully, in order as far as possible to reduce such evil results as those complained of.
§ Mr. REESDo not the official statistics show that the percentage of deaths on this account is lower among Asiatics, on the average, than among Europeans?