Mr. BOWER MANasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware that the R.M.S. "Viper" crossed from Belfast to Ardrossan on 26th June, 1911, with a full complement of passengers on board, and her deck crew consisted of two boys only; whether he will state how many competent hands constitute the deck manning of this passenger and mail steamer; and whether the Board of Trade surveyors of Glasgow are paying special attention to the manning of all passenger vessels, coast or otherwise, sailing from the port of Glasgow; and (2), if he is aware that there are passenger vessels sailing from Leith manned with incompetent crews and some of the vessels short-handed; whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the manning of the passenger boats before they leave the port, and cause all vessels to be detained which have an inadequate or incompetent crew; whether he can state if he has any reports from the local officials as to the, manning of the passenger boats; and whether he will cause such reports; if any, to be laid on the Table of the House?
Mr. BUXTONI am making inquiries on the points raised by my hon. Friend, and will communicate the result to him.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked how many deck hands were signed on the passenger steamer "Minnewaska" on her last outward voyage from London to New York; how many of them were qualified A.B.'s; whether he can state how many men were signed as firemen and trimmers; how 1334 many had had previous sea service; and how many gave Leeds or other inland towns as their place of birth or residence?
Mr. BUXTONI find that twenty-seven deck hands were engaged on the s.s. "Minnewaska" on her last outward voyage from London to New York, of whom twelve were rated as "A.B." Seventy-five men were signed as firemen and trimmers. Of these forty-nine claimed to have had previous sea service. Thirty-four of the men gave their home address as Leeds or other inland town, but several of the men giving this address claimed to have had previous sea service.
§ Mr. BOWERMANasked how many deck hands were signed on the passenger steamer "Minneapolis" on her last outward voyage from London to New York; how many of them were qualified A.B.'s; whether he can state how many men were signed as firemen and trimmers; how many had had previous sea service; and how many gave Leeds or other inland towns as their place of birth or residence?
Mr. BUXTONI find that twenty-eight deck hands were engaged on the S.S. "Minneapolis" on her last outward voyage, of whom fourteen were rated as A.B.s. The number of firemen and trimmers engaged in all was sixty-eight, of whom thirty-two claimed to have previous sea service. Thirty-four of the men gave their address as Leeds, but several of the men giving this address claimed to have previous sea service.