§ The Board of Trade have had the general question of crews' accommodation on British ships under consideration for some time. Since their Regulations as to crews' accommodation were last revised in 1923, the standard of accommodation has been gradually rising, especially in new ships, in many of which the accommodation provided is above the minimum requirements laid down in the Regulations.
§ From time to time, however, complaints have been received that the accommodation provided for officers and men in British ships is unsatisfactory, and unfavourable comparisons are sometimes made between the standard of accommodation on British ships and that provided on certain foreign ships, especially Scandinavian ships. These complaints are always investigated individually, but in order that a true picture of the conditions prevailing throughout the British Mercantile Marine could be obtained, the Board of Trade arranged for a comprehensive survey to be made by their surveyors, who were instructed to pay special attention to the question of crew accommodation when visiting ships in the normal course of their duties, and to furnish particulars of the condition of the crew spaces on all ships, both British and foreign, visited by them during the period December, 1927, to March, 1928.
§ In addition, the Shipping Federation appointed in May, 1929, a special committee to advise owners as to the best arrangements which could be made for the comfort and convenience of crews. This committee has made two reports relating to the accommodation of seamen other than lascars, one dealing with new cargo ships of 1,500 tons gross and upwards, and the other with new cargo ships below that tonnage. These two reports contain a number of valuable recommendations, many of which go beyond the existing Board of Trade Regulations. Model 1900 plans are appended to the reports showing arrangements for the crew, which would give a floor area and cubic capacity considerably in excess of the present statutory minimum, and indicating that, in the great majority of new ships, including even those of relatively small tonnage, it should be possible to provide a separate mess room for the crew. A special arrangement of the sleeping berths is suggested which avoids double tiers of bunks, and useful suggestions are made in connection with washing and sanitary accommodation. As an alternative to the usual methods of heating, a system of central heating by hot water is recommended for ordinary cargo ships, other than tankers; and the importance of adequate ventilation and heating is pointed out. The provision of an isolation hospital on all large foreign-going cargo vessels is also recommended. The committee, recognising that the provision of good accommodation will be of little avail unless it is kept clean and in good order, lay special stress on the proper supervision and cleansing of the crews' quarters, and suggest the imposition of penalties for failure to keep the accommodation clean. These recommendations, as originally made, applied particularly to new ships of 1,500 tons gross and over, but the Shipping Federation have agreed with the Board of Trade that they should be adopted wherever practicable, irrespective of the size of the ship.
§ The reports have been examined in the Department and also by the Joint Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Health on the health of the mercantile marine, and the opinion, both of the Board and of the Joint Committee, is that if the recommendations are followed, a material improvement in the standard of accommodation will result.
§ The recommendations have also been considered by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee who have expressed the opinion that the recommendations should be of great value in securing improvements in the accommodation provided in new ships.
§ The Board of Trade have, therefore, decided to give their general approval to the recommendations, and to take such action as lies within their power to give effect to them. They are, accordingly, 1901 circulating to their surveyors particulars Of the recommendations of the Shipping Federation Committee, and at the same time are instructing them to ascertain, in the case of all new ships, the proposals as regards crew spaces as early as possible, so that, if necessary, they can approach the owners and builders and discuss with them the possibility of making improvements in design or in fittings, where these appear to be called for in the light of the recommendations.
§ The reports do not deal in any great detail with existing ships, as there must, of necessity, be great difficulty in securing improvements involving structural alterations. It has, however, been agreed that much could be done to secure improvements on existing ships which fall below present day standards in such matters as the provision of lavatory and Washing accommodation, the substitution of metal bunks for wooden berths, and the proper lighting, ventilation, painting and cleaning of the crews' quarters; and the Board of Trade surveyors are being instructed to endeavour to secure improvements of this nature in those cases in which they can reasonably be expected, having regard to the age and condition of the ships and the particular trades in which they are engaged.
| TABLE showing Strength of Military Forces maintained by Great Britain in the Channel Islands in January, 1914, and January, 1931. respectively. | ||||
| Detail. | Strength in January, 1914. | Strength in January, 1931. | ||
| Jersey District. | Guernsey and Alderney District. | Jersey District. | Guernsey and Alderney District. | |
| Command and Staff. | ||||
| Lieutenant Governor and Commanding the Troops. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General. | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Staff Captain | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| All Ranks. | ||||
| Royal Artillery | 92 | 230 | — | — |
| Royal Engineers | 4 | 26 | 3 | 2 |
| Infantry | 720 | 627 | — | 16 |
| Royal Army Service Corps | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Royal Army Medical Corps | 12 | 10 | — | 6 |
| Royal Army Ordnance Corps | 5 | 8 | — | — |
| Total | 840 | 909 | 9 | 31 |
§ Note,—This Table does not include the Channel Islands Militia, which is raised and paid by the Islands, nor the Assistant Adjutant General for Militia whose cost is not now borne on Army Estimates.