§ 15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction in the ports of the United Kingdom among seafarers at the working of the present system of manning merchant ships, and especially as regards the working of the P.O. 5 form; if he is aware that in many cases where a sailor has found a berth in a ship he is prevented by the officials of the Sailors and Firemen's Union from obtaining this form, without which he cannot go aboard under the Regulations; that this system puts great power in the hands of these officials which is liable to abuse; and whether he will receive a deputation on the subject?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe Board of Trade have received from time to time complaints very much on the lines indicated in the question, and it appeared that the trouble is due to a dispute between different unions representing seamen. In this dispute, so long as the law is complied with, the Board of Trade have no power to interfere, and in these circumstances I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by a deputation.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these cases have nothing to do with any disputes between unions, and arise because these men have been out of work or sick for a long time, and cannot pay the exorbitant charges that are asked before they receive these forms?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI have looked into this matter, and am clear that there is no legal question arising to which I am entitled or ought to reply.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not the case that representations have been made to the right hon. Gentleman's Department and to his predecessor, which go to prove that many of the men so victimised have been men who saw service during the War, who suffered from submarine warfare—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is rather monopolising Question Time.