§ Mr. WARDLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when a foreign ship, the owner of which has no domicile or registered office in England discharges its cargo, the workman employed to perform this operation have no means of enforcing wages or claims for compensation in an English court; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to deal with the matter?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)It does not appear that difficulty of recovering wages for discharge of cargoes from foreign ships mentioned in the question is as great as in the case of the stowing of cargo thereon; nut, at the same time, if the hon. Member will satisfy me that there are real cases of hardship, I will consider whether it is possible to extend the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Stevedores' and Trimmers' Remedies) Bill so as to include persons engaged in discharging cargoes. Claims for compensation are dealt with by the Shipowners' Negligence (Remedies) Act, 1905, and the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in some countries the agent of the ship by which the shipping is consigned is responsible, and will he introduce similar legislation into this country?