§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea of two Asiatic firemen named Yu Ah Yu and Woo Ching Za, on 20th August, 1909, and 27th August, 1909, respectively, whilst serving on the steamer "Prometheus," of Liverpool; whether any inquiry has been held into these cases; whether the seamen were medically examined before joining; how long they had served on the vessel; whether they had had any previous service whether they were on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room and stokehold, how many tons of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each twenty-four hours; whether the engineers' log books have been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Sydney Buxton)Inquiries have been made into the disappearance at sea of the two Asiatic firemen, named Yu Ah Yu and Woo Ching Za, by the Acting British Consul at Jeddah, by the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Liverpool and by a Board of Trade surveyor. The men had been medically examined before joining the "Prometheus," and they had served on 976 the vessel nearly two months. Both men had had previous sea service, and were on duty at the time of their disappearance. When Yu Ah Yu disappeared on 20th August the temperature of the engine-room was 94 degrees and of the stokehold 98 degrees. On 27th August, when Woo Ching Za disappeared, the temperature of the engine-room was 96 degrees, and the stokehold 102 degrees. An average of 42½ tons of coal were required to be worked each twenty-four hours, the number of firemen and trimmers being eighteen. The engineers' log books have been produced to the Board of Trade Surveyor. No previous case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearances have been reported on this vessel during the last three years.
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea, on 7th August, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Rasam Ghaleb, whilst serving on the steamer "Tangistan," of Swansea; whether he can state the cause of death; and, if so, why the cause was not stated in the return of deaths published by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen for the month of September, 1909?
§ Mr. BUXTONYes, Sir; my attention has been called to the death of the Asiatic fireman in question. He is supposed to have committed suicide, and in such cases it is not usual to publish the cause of death in the monthly return of deaths issued by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen.
§ Mr. O'GRADYMay I ask whether there are not exceptions made in the Returns as to the cause of death?
§ Mr. BUXTONIn a few cases. In a case like that mentioned the cause is not given out of consideration for the feelings of the relatives.
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea, on 4th October, 1909, of an Asiatic seaman named Raiman Hossein, whilst serving on the steamer "Macedonia," of Belfast; whether any inquiry has been held into the matter; 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; and whether any previous cases of death from suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. BUXTONInquiry into the disappearance at sea of the Asiatic seaman in question was made by the shipping master at Fremantle and by the deputy-superintendent of the mercantile marine office at Tilbury. The seaman was not on duty when he disappeared; he was medically examined before joining the "Macedonia," and had served on the vessel about eight months. He had had previous sea service. One other case of supposed suicide has occurred on this vessel during the last three years.
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the disappearance at sea on 20th September, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Dong Chup, whilst serving on the steamer "Chatham," of London; whether any inquiry has been held into the matter; 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; what was the temperature of the engine-room and stokehold; how many tons of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?
§ Mr. BUXTONInquiry into the disappearance of the Asiatic fireman in question has been made by the shipping master at Newcastle, New South Wales, and further inquiry will be made when the vessel arrives in the United Kingdom. The man was on duty at the time of his disappearance, but it is not known at present whether he had been medically examined before joining the "Chatham," or whether he had had any previous sea service. He had served on the vessel about two months. The minimum temperature of the engine room for the voyage was 90 degrees, and the maximum temperature 120 degrees. The minimum temperature of the stokehold was 92 degrees, and the maximum temperature 118 degrees. I have no definite information at present as to the coal consumption of this vessel. One other case of supposed suicide has occurred on this vessel during the last three years.
§ Mr. O'GRADYMay I ask the President of the Board of Trade if his Department never takes into consideration the question of temperature in these rooms and their connection with the suicides that frequently take place?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe matter is very carefully considered from every point of view. Whenever these questions of temperature are brought to the attention of the Board of Trade, and in their view the temperature is excessive, representations are at once made to the shipowners in question. I am glad to say that in nearly every case—certainly the majority of cases—our representations are very favourably received with a view to mitigation.
§ Mr. REESIs it not the case that higher summer temperatures than those mentioned are experienced on deck in certain tropical waters?