§ 79. Mr. WINGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to .the case of Mrs. Meadows, the widow of a fisherman, Lowestoft, who by a recent decision of the County Court failed to obtain compensation for loss of her husband owing to his presumed share in the stocker of the voyage; and will he take steps by legislation or otherwise to prevent such seamen and their dependants being deprived of compensation given them by Act of Parliament by the evasion of giving stocker which is recognised by custom?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)My attention has not been called to this case, but I presume it was decided under the provision in the Act which excludes from compensation all such members of the crew of a fishing vessel as are remunerated by shares in the profits or gross earnings of the working of the vessel. There may be good grounds for reviewing the application of this provision to cases of the kind referred to, but no change can be made except by legislation, and it would not be possible to undertake this at the present time. The point has been noted for consideration.