§ Mr. PETOasked the precise nature of the Board of Trade Regulations with regard to deck hands on emigrant steamships; whether there is any provision that the men engaged in this capacity should be able seamen; whether there has been any Regulation issued subsequent to the scale which came into force on the 1st of June, 1902; and whether he will consider the advisability of amending the present Regulations in order to provide more effectively for the safety of the passengers and the safe navigation of the ships?
Mr. BUXTONUnder Section 305 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, an emigrant ship is required to be manned with an efficient crew for her intended voyage to the satisfaction of the emigration officer, and the Board of Trade have issued instructions to these officers for their guidance in carrying out the requirements of this Section. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of these instructions, which, however, he must understand have not the force of statutory rules, but are merely instructions for the guidance of emigration officers in the discharge of their duties. The question of the deck manning of emigrant ships is at present under consideration in connection with the provision of boats and rafts.