§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he would inquire into the circumstances under which the captains of the two British steamers "Barnesmore" and "Edenmore" were compelled to have the men they were engaging as crews at the port of Antwerp on 17th March medically examined in a drinking saloon kept by a runner who is in the employ of a shipping master named Johsson; if he would inquire why the men were not given their advance notes at the consular shipping office, in accordance with the circular from the Board of Trade to shipowners recommending this to be done; whether he could state if the owners of the Johnstone boats had been communicated with, the same as other owners; whether he would further inquire as to why the men were charged seven francs, and in the case of the boatswain of one of the vessels, who had been four continuous voyages in the same vessel, why he was compelled to pay ten francs; and whether, in consequence of 618 the reluctance on the part of some ship-owners to abate this nuisance, he would introduce legislation at an early date making it obligatory on the part of masters engaging crews at foreign ports to have the amount of the advance stated on the articles and the notes to be handed to the men themselves by the consular officer at the time of signing?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I am making inquiries into the several matters referred to in the question, and the result shall be communicated to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.