§ Mr. GEORGE TERRELLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the demands which have been presented to the Peninsular and Oriental Company by the Transport Workers' Federation, and other seamen's trades unions, threatening a strike unless the officials were allowed to inspect the ships at all times, superintend the inspection of the boats, and frame such regulations as they may think necessary for the manning of the ships; and if he will state what steps the Government propose to take to assert the supreme authority of the Board of Trade in matters relating to the equipment and manning of ships under contract to carry His Majesty's mails?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)Provided that the requirements of the law are complied with, the Board of Trade have no power to interfere with the conditions of employment agreed to by ship owners and the seamen they employ.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLIs it not a fact that the Government feel themselves a little helpless in the matter?