19. Major HOREBELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty with reference to the "Bacchus" disaster and the condition in which the dependants of the men who lost their lives now find themselves, apart from the temporary charity provided for them, to state what were the terms of the contract on which these men were employed by the Admiralty; what was their exact rating 1829 and status; and whether provision is being made for the said dependants of these men under the Workmen's Compensation Act?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe crew of Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Bacchus" were engaged and signed on an ordinary Board of Trade form of agreement. The actual agreement for this vessel is a foreign going running agreement, which terminates on 30th June next, or on the vessel's first arrival in United Kingdom after that date.
The men lost were rated as follows:
Their status was identical with that of the crews of the ordinary British merchant ships, and they were paid in accordance with the rates agreed on by the National Maritime Board. The question of making suitable provision under the Workmen's Compensation Acts in the cases of those men who had dependants is under consideration.
- V. Wakely, third officer.
- C. Stonehouse, junior wireless operator.
- C. Chinn, able seaman.
- A. Edwards, able seaman.
- J. Riddle, water tender.
- E. Tucker, water tender