§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNE (on behalf of Mr. Bottomley)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry has been held into the circumstances attending the death from beri-beri, on 8th October, 1909, of an Asiatic seaman named Sk Alley Sk Esmal whilst serving on the steamer "Glencluny," of Glasgow; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he can state when the provisions on the vessel were last examined by a Board of Trade inspector; how long the seaman had served on the vessel, and whether he had had any previous sea service; whether any previous cases of death from this disease have occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received and the cost per month of the food supplied to him; whether any compensation has been paid to the dependants; and, if not, whether he will take steps to inform the relatives of their rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906?
Mr. BUXTONInquiry respecting the death of the seaman referred to in the hon. Member's question was made by the superintendent of the mercantile marine office at Cardiff, and I am to add that I have under consideration at the present time the preventive measures to be taken against beri-beri on British ships. Certain of the provisions on board this vessel were examined by a Board of Trade inspector on 9th June last. The seaman joined the vessel on 17th July, 1909; he is believed to have had about twelve months' sea service in all. There have been no previous deaths from beri-beri on board this vessel. I have no reason to suppose that the seaman was inadequately paid, or that the provisions supplied to him were insufficient. I am not aware that any compensation has been paid to his depen- 182 dants, and I do not propose to take any action in the direction indicated in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNE (on behalf of Mr. Bottomley)asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry has been held into the circumstances attending the death at sea from heart failure, on 1st October, 1909, of an Asiatic trimmer named Ellumdeen Fayaldin, whilst serving on the steamer "Killin," of Glasgow; whether the seaman 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 much 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 death from heat stroke or heart failure have occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received, and the cost per month of the provisions supplied to him; whether any compensation has been paid to the dependants; and, if not, whether he will take steps to inform them of their rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906?
Mr. BUXTONInquiry respecting the death of the seaman referred to in question was held by His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Algiers and the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Cardiff. The man was not on duty at time of death. He was medically examined before joining. He signed articles on 9th September last year, and died on 1st October. It is probable that he had had no previous sea service. The quantity of Indian coal consumed daily was about twenty-two tons. The minimum temperature of the engine room was about 80deg., and the maximum 117deg. The stokehold and bunkers were about 85 deg. No cases of death from heatstroke or heart failure have occurred on this vessel. I have no information as to the wages paid, and I have no reason to think that the provisions furnished were inadequate. I am informed by the owners that no compensation was paid, as death occurred from natural causes.