§ 7. Mr. HAYESasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of complaints of offences by boarding-house keepers in the matter of supplying Arab and other coloured seamen that have reached the Board of Trade during the past three years; the quarters from which the complaints have come; the number of prosecutions that have taken place and the results; and whether the complaints are investigated by Board of Trade or police officers?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERDuring the past three years the Board of Trade have received six complaints of offences by hoarding-house keepers and coffeehouse keepers in connection with the supply of Arabs or other coloured seamen. The complaints came either from seamen or from officers of the Board of Trade. In one case a prosecution was instituted. The accused was convicted, and sentenced to a fine of £10, with the alternative of two months hard labour. In each of these cases, the complaint was investigated by the Board of Trade.
Commander WILLIAMSWould the right hon. Gentleman draw the attention of shipowners to these complaints, and endeavour to get them not to use so many Arab seamen?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is rather a difficult question to deal with. Perhaps the most effective thing I can do, wherever I get a satisfactory case and can rely upon the evidence, is to prosecute.