§ 80. Mr. PETOasked whether, in the case of the steamship "Tasso," which is trading abroad and wholly manned by aliens, the owners of this vessel, who are seated to be Messrs. W. Morphy and Sons, are natural-born or naturalised British subjects or whether they are persons made denizens by letters of denization; whether the "Tasso" is owned by a body corporate, whose principal offices are at Patras, Greece; and, if so, whether the British registration of this vessel is in accordance with the provisions laid down in Section 1 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894?
Mr. BUXTONI am informed that according to official records the sole registered owner of the steamer to which the hon. Member refers is a natural-born British subject.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to put a stop to this national scandal of ships being allowed to fly the British flag officered and manned entirely by aliens?
Mr. BUXTONThis raises a very large "legal question. I am somewhat in sympathy with the hon. Member's view, but I do not think it can be raised alone in reference to ibis question.