§ 1. Mr. BASIL PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is. aware that the steamer "Austrian," registered at Glasgow and flying the British flag, is at present lying at Bornholm, having been seized-there for debt, the crew being without provisions or money, and that the master is a Greek, the chief officer a Turk, and the remainder of the crew composed of nine Turks, six Greeks, three Russians, two Poles, and one Lett, with one British engineer, one British wireless operator, and one naturalised British able-bodied seaman; whether the local authorities at Bornholm have been appealed to by the crew for monetary assistance; if such has been granted, whether it will be refunded by the Board of Trade; and whether it is intended to adopt measures which will put an end to abuses of this kind calculated to bring discredit on the British flag?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERMy attention has been drawn to this case, and the facts are substantially as stated in the question. The manning of the ship is not contrary to law, the ship having been employed exclusively in trading abroad. The Board of Trade have no power to, spend public money on behalf of the crew of the ship while they are still on board, but I am informed that the mortgagees have authorised their agents to advance funds for the sustenance of the crew pending the sale of the ship.
§ Mr. PETOIn view of the several cases which have recently occurred where discredit has been brought upon the British flag, will he consider the advisability of introducing legislation to bring about an alteration of the law with regard to vessels trading entirely abroad being allowed to fly the British flag?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAs my hon. Friend knows, that question has very recently been considered, and the only result of legislation in that direction 207 would be to transfer ships to foreign flags. I am afraid it would not have any other effect.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, because the vessel is registered here, and we tax it.