§ Mr. SHACKLETONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea from heart disease of an Asiatic fireman named Nossimalli Boolie on 11th August, 1908, on the steamer "Clan Matheson," 1132W of Glasgow; whether any inquiry was held; whether the seaman was medically examined before going on the ship; whether he had any previous sea service; whether the Board of Trade surveyors have satisfactorily reported on the ventilation of the stokehold; if he can state the amount of coal the firemen and trimmers were required to work each 24 hours; and whether any previous cases of heart failure, heart disease, or heat stroke have occurred on this ship?
Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir; the man referred to by my hon. Friend died of heart disease on a voyage from New York to Australia. He had been laid up for five days before his death. Inquiry was held by the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine at Melbourne and the superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Glasgow. The man had been medically examined before joining the ship, and had had several years' sea service. The vessel is now on a voyage to Port Natal, and on her return the ventilation will be examined by the Board of Trade surveyors. The owners state that the coal consumption was 28 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was 21. No previous case of death from heart failure, heart disease, or heat stroke on board this vessel has been reported.