Mr. POINTERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Shipping Federation are substituting Chinese coolies for British workmen in British registered vessels under their control; and whether his Department is taking any steps to prevent the wholesale carrying out of this policy?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Tennant)I am informed by the general manager of the Shipping Federation as follows: "No Chinese have been supplied by the Shipping Federation as sailors or firemen on British vessels, nor does there exist on the part of the federation any such policy as is described in the question." May I be allowed to add that as regards the shipping dispute generally, the Board of Trade are in close touch with the progress of events, and are taking all practicable steps to promote an early settlement between the parties.