§ 33. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the crew of the Greek steamer "Nikoe," which was in Barry on the 7th July, were asked to accept reductions of wages which they state to be contrary to Greek law; that the chief alien officer at Cardiff intervened in the dispute and ordered six firemen to return on board the steamer and, on their refusal, ordered their arrest and secured their detention for four days in Cardiff prison; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances of these arrests and the action of the chief immigration officer at Cardiff in the matter?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have not had time to investigate this matter fully. I am informed that the immigration officer did not intervene in the wage dispute, but when it appeared that certain alien seamen who had been allowed to land temporarily on the usual condition that they would leave the country in the same ship had refused to comply with this condition, he felt it necessary to order their detention under the provisions of the Aliens Order pending arrangements for their repatriation on another ship. They were so repatriated on the s.s. "Cleanthis" on the 11th instant, but I am making further inquiry into the whole of the circumstances.
§ Mr. GRENFELLWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his promise to look into it, may I ask if he is aware 2766 that their contracts terminated automatically with the changes in the wages offered to them, and that they were entitled to depart from their ship and be shipped back to Greece?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am making further inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Gentleman.