THE ADJOURNMENT: MERCHANT NAVY COMFORTS. (Hansard, 3 August 1943)

§ LORD SNELL
My Lords, I beg to move the House do now adjourn.

§ LORD KEYES
My Lords, I understand I am allowed to speak on the adjournment about a matter to which I desire to call the attention of my noble friend Lord Templemore. In the course of his remarks he said that the Mercantile Marine officers objected to having anything to do with the distribution of these comforts. I am very closely associated with the Officers' (Merchant Navy) Federation and the Navigating and Engineer Officers' Association, and I am sure that if the matter is properly explained to them they will gladly undertake the distribution of these comforts. May I suggest to my noble friend that he brings that point to the notice of the Board of Trade who are dealing with this matter?

§ LORD TEMPLEMORE
In answer to my noble friend the noble and gallant Admiral, I will certainly bring what he says to the notice of my right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade.

LORD STRABOLGI
My Lords, on the same question may I add this? After the debate on Lord Bennett's Motion had ended, it was pointed out to me by seamen's representatives who heard it, that a point which was missed out of the debate and which certainly remains is that a great many of the Asiatic seamen and Indian seamen who do such good work in our Mercantile Marine do not speak English, and do not read English, and that there would be difficulty with them over the coupons. These representatives asked that that point should be made at the first opportunity and I now make it.