§ Mr. CLYNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the loss and hardships to seamen's relatives and tradespeople arising from the present practice of supplying sailors with advance pay notes at the time of signing for a voyage; and whether he can take any action to institute a system of periodically supplying advance notes to wives or other persons duly authorised by seamen to receive them?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The present system of issuing advance notes to seamen upon engagement sometimes gives rise to difficulties. As regards the second part of the question, a seaman can at present, under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, require a stipulation in the ship's agreement by which a portion of his wages, not exceeding one half, shall be paid each month to a near relative.