§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked why the scale of provisions set out in the First Schedule to The Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, was not supplied, as required by Section 25 of that Act, to the twenty-four Chinamen engaged as the crew of the steamer "Strathesk," of Glasgow, on 13th September, 1909, at the mercantile marine office, Poplar; and by what authority the Board of Trade superintendent sanctioned a smaller and cheaper scale, called a Chinese provision scale, to be embodied in the agreement of the crew?
Mr. BUXTONAs I stated, in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough on the 16th instant, Subsection (5) of Section 25 of the Merchant 940 Shipping Act, 1906, provides that the scale of provisions set out in the First Schedule of the Act shall not apply in the case of Lascars or natives of India or others not accustomed to a European dietary with whom an agreement is entered into providing an adequate scale of provisions suited to their needs and uses. The scale of provisions sanctioned in the case of the steamer "Strathesk" was, I was informed, that usually adopted for Chinese crews.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked whether the steamer "Strathesk," of Glasgow, engaged a crew of twenty-four Chinamen at the mercantile marine office. Poplar, on the 13th September, 1909; that nineteen of these Chinamen stated their birthplace to be Hong Kong; that seventeen did not produce continuous discharge books; that fourteen stated they had previously served on foreign ships; and that no qualified able seaman was carried; whether he could state what evidence of birthplace, previous service on British or foreign ships, and ability to efficiently perform their duties as sailors and firemen was produced; and what steps were taken by the Board of Trade surveyor to test the seaworthiness of the ship, having regard to the composition of the crew?
Mr. BUXTONNo evidence of the seamen's statement of birthplace being produced, they were examined in regard to their knowledge of the English language, and satisfied the superintendent of the mercantile marine office that they possessed a sufficient knowledge of it to understand the necessary orders which might be given to them in the course of the performance of their duties. It was not necessary for the Superintendent to refer the case to the Board of Trade Surveyor.