§ 38. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the British s.s. "Misty Law" has recently paid off her whole British crew at Rotterdam and replaced them by Chinese; that the "Traprain Law" of the same line has just replaced her whole crew in Glasgow, in all departments, by Chinese, who were sent up from London to Glasgow for the purpose; that both these vessels are engaged in trade between Great Britain, 1094 Australia, and New Zealand; and whether, in view of the prevalent unemployment amongst British seamen, he will make endeavours with shipowners to avoid such action in the future?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. William Graham)I understand that the crew of the s.s. "Misty Law," engaged at Rotterdam on the 23rd January last, included Chinese firemen, cooks and stewards, the officers and the deck crew being European; but the only white British seamen replaced by Chinese were the cooks and stewards, numbering five in all; the firemen on the previous voyage were Arabs. These British seamen could have signed on again if they had wished. The crew of the s.s. "Traprain Law," engaged at Glasgow on the 28th January, included Chinese firemen, cooks and assistant stewards, the officers and the deck crew being British; but as this was the vessel's first voyage there has been no replacement of British by Chinese in this instance. While I am anxious to see as many British seamen employed as possible, the matter is not one in which the Board of Trade can intervene.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask when the President of the Board of Trade will be able to look into this matter seriously. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"] I am well aware that he has been much engaged on another great measure, but I should like to know when he will be able to look into this matter in view of the increasing number of British seamen unemployed and the unfortunate increase in the number of Asiatics employed in British ships?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have considered this matter from time to time, and generally I have done everything in my power. But there are definite limits to anything which the Board of Trade can do.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre not the conditions now very much different in view of the great unemployment in the country? British seamen cannot get another job now as easily as they could a year ago, and will my right hon. Friend consider this matter in connection with the proposals of the Lord Privy Seal?
§ Mr. SANDHAMWill the right hon. Gentleman make a special appeal to the alleged patriotic British shipowners to engage British labour?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIn view of the fact that these ships ply in the Tropics is it not a disadvantage that British seamen should be employed instead of Orientals?