§ 53. Mr. RITSONasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the shortages of seamen in the port of Sunderland in each particular grade?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANShortages occur from time to time, and I am informed that, while at the present moment there is no actual shortage at Sunderland, the number of ordinary seamen available there is small. There has this year been on occasions shortage in this grade.
§ Mr. RITSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it was stated last week that 473 seamen of all grades were signing on and that this week it is anticipated there will be 408; is he also aware that in the speech made on 14th May, the statement was made by the right hon. Gentleman himself that there was a shortage of seamen in Sunderland? I want to contradict that by asking this question.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe exact words used by me on 14th May were:
There is a shortage of ordinary seamen reported at…Sunderland."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 14th May, 1936; col. 649, Vol. 312.]