LORD MUSKERRYMy Lords, I rise to call attention to the shipping and discharging fees which British seaman are required to pay at British Consulates; and to ask His Majesty's Government whether they will consider the desirability of abolishing these charges; also, whether they are prepared to furnish a Return showing a full account of the total shipping and discharging fees paid by British seamen at the leading ports on the Continent from which British vessels are constantly trading.
The object I have in view in putting these questions is to ventilate a grievance which is felt by both officers and seamen in the mercantile marine. Though the sum paid in respect of signing on and signing off, in each case 1s., is a small one, it must be remembered that some of these vessels make a large number of voyages in the year, and that when the amount is totalled up it constitutes a great hardship on men whose pay is not very large. I understand that these fees do not go to the Consulate as they used to, but are paid to the Treasury. These signing on and discharging fees 858 were done away with in the United Kingdom some years ago. I would remind your Lordships that our merchant seaman have absolutely no chance of exercising the franchise or of expressing their views in Parliament; and I do think it is rather hard that they should be compelled to pay these charges. I beg to ask the Question standing in my name.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord FITZMAURICE)My Lords, the matter which the noble Lord has brought to the attention of your Lordships' House is one which affects three Departments— the Board of Trade, the Treasury, and the Foreign Office; and although technically it is under the control of the Foreign Office in reality it affects even more the other two Departments I have named. I have, of course, consulted those Departments in regard to the answer which I am about to give, and for the moment I am representing their views as well as those of the Foreign Office. The fees referred to are levied under Order in Council in pursuance of the Consular Salaries and Fees Act, 1891, and they could be abolished by Order in Council under that Act. The fees represent a service done to shipping, as the fact of the engagement and discharge of men being effected before the consul gives some protection against imposition or desertion respectively, and, of course, against crimping. The consul has to warn the master and crew against any stipulations in the agreement which he considers contrary to Act of Parliament. The fee charged for this service is 2s., half of which is generally paid by the seamen and half by the master. In regard to the granting of the Return asked for, the Foreign Office cannot tell the amount of these particular fees without reference to His Majesty's Consuls, who would have to go through their accounts item by item for that purpose. This would entail much labour on a limited staff already very fully occupied with important duties. I have no authority to say that the Board of Trade are prepared to abandon the levy of these fees; nor can this matter be dealt with except with the consent of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I will call the attention of the Departments concerned to this question.