§ 7. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the nature of the reply of the International Navigation Company with regard to their action in engaging eighty-eight extra men in the stewards' department on board the ss. "Lapland," to be transferred at New York to the ss. "Kroonland", and whether he is aware that, as the latter ship is under the American flag, the transference of these men amounted to an importation of labour, which is prohibited in the United States of America?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Robertson)The International Navigation Company have informed me that as the "Kroonland" required additional stewards at New York they sent spare men from Liverpool by the ss. "Lapland" belonging to the same line, and that these men will be returned in due course. The question whether the transfer of these men to the ss. "Kroonland" would be contrary to United States law is one for the United States authorities to consider.