§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been held into the circumstances attending the death from heart disease, on the 26th October, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Mokwell Hassan, whilst serving on the steamer ''Amatonga," of North Shields; 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 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 death from heart stroke or heart failure had occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received; the cost per month of the provisions supplied to him; 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. BUXTONInquiries into the death of the fireman referred to in the question have been held by the Acting British Consul-General at Algiers, by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Avonmouth, and by a Board of Trade Surveyor. The fireman was not on duty when he died. It is not known whether he had been medically examined before joining the ship, or whether he had had any previous sea service. He had served for about eight months. The consumption of coal was from twenty tons to twenty-four tons per day, and twelve firemen and trimmers were employed. The temperature of the engine room was 88 deg., and of the stokehold 86 deg., on 26th October, 1909; and 86 deg. and 76 deg. respectively on 21st October, 1909, when the man was taken ill. No previous case of death from heat stroke or heart failure has occurred on this vessel during the last three 340 years. I am informed that the seaman's wages were eighteen rupees per month and the cost of provisions about 25s. per month, but I have no information as to whether any compensation has been paid to the seaman's dependants, and it is not within, my province to take action in the direction indicated in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman cannot possibly direct his officers who sign on these Lascars to draw their attention to their rights under the Workmen's Compensation Act?
§ Mr. SYDNEY BUXTONI said that I would consider the matter. I have been in communication with the Mercantile Department to see whether anything could be done. So far as the actual obligation of carrying it out is concerned, that rests with the Home Office and not with the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been held into the circumstances attending the death from beri-beri, on 10th August, 1909, of an Asiatic seaman, named Sing Yung Sing, whilst serving on the steamer "Seminole,'' of Newcastle; whether he was aware that; this disease was attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he could 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 had occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received, and the cost per month of the food supplied to him; 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. BUXTONInquiry was held by the Vice-Consul at San Francisco into the circumstances attending the death of the Asiatic seaman referred to in the question. The cause of beri-beri has not been definitely ascertained, but it has been suggested that the disease is connected with the nature of the food consumed. I have no record of any recent inspection of the provisions of the steamer "Seminole.'' The seaman was engaged on 27th April, 1909, and died on 19th August, 1909. It is not known whether he had had any previous sea service. No previous case of death from this disease is known to have 341 occurred on this vessel. The seaman received wages at the rate of sixteen dollars (Mexican) per month. I have no information as to the cost of provisions supplied. I am informed that no compensation has been paid to the seaman's dependants, as the man died from natural causes. It is not within my province to take action in the direction indicated in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been held into the circumstances attending the death from beri-beri, on 11th September, 1909, of an Asiatic seaman, named Ahmedbhoy Eusoof, whilst serving on the steamer "Knight Errant," of Liverpool; whether he was aware that this disease was attributable to insufficient and improper food; whether he could 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; whether he had had any previous sea service; whether any previous cases of death from this disease had occurred on this vessel; what wages the seaman received, and the cost per month of the provisions supplied to him; 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. BUXTONInquiry was held into the circumstances attending the death of the Asiatic seaman referred to in the question by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Hull. The cause of beri-beri has not been definitely ascertained, but it has been suggested that the disease is connected with the nature of the food consumed. Certain of the provisions of the "Knight Errant" were inspected in January, 1909. It is not known whether the seaman had previous sea service, or how long he had been on board the vessel. One previous case of death on board this vessel has been definitely ascribed to beri-beri and another has been described as a probable case of this disease. I may add that the preventive measures to be taken against beriberi are now under consideration by the Board of Trade. I have no information as to the other matters referred to by the hon. Member, and it is not within my province to take action in the direction indicated in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDDid I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that at 342 this special inquiry held by his Department they could not even find out how long the sailor had been engaged on board the vessel?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe information supplied to me is that they had no evidence as to how long he was employed on board the vessel. If the hon. Member desires, I will make further inquiry regarding that point.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been held into the circumstances attending the death from heat stroke, on 2nd November, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer named Abdool Rahaman Curren, whilst serving on the steamer "Malakand," of Liverpool; 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 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 death from heat stroke or heart failure had occurred on this vessel; what wages the seamen received, and the cost per month of the provisions supplied to him; 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. BUXTONInquiries have been held by the principal collector of Customs at Colombo, by the superintendent of the mercantile marine office at Dundee, and by a Board of Trade surveyor, into the death of the coal trimmer referred to in the question. The man was on duty at the time of his death, and had been medically examined before joining the ship. He had only served about three days. It is unknown whether he had had any previous sea service. About sixty-three tons of coal were consumed each day, thirty firemen and trimmers being employed. The temperature of the engine room was 104 degrees, and of the stokehold 116 degrees. One other case of heat apoplexy has occurred on this vessel during the past three years, the case occurring on the day previous to the death of Curren. I have no information with regard to the other matters referred to by the hon. Member, and it is not within my province to take action in the direction suggested in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. REESMay I ask whether similar minute inquiries are made with respect to the death of European seamen on these vessels?
§ Mr. BUXTONIf the hon. Gentleman will put a question on the Paper, I will have inquiry made as to that matter.