§ Mr. M'GHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the death at sea from beri-beri, on the 30th June, 1913, on the steamer "Strathbeg," of Glasgow, of a Chinese fireman and trimmer named Can Cheng; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he can state if this man was medically examined before joining the ship; if any previous deaths from beri-beri have occurred on this ship; (2) whether his attention has been called to the death at sea from beri-beri, on 21st 285W February, 1913, on the steamer "Jeseric," of Glasgow, of a Chinese trimmer named Chong King; whether he is aware that this disease is attributed to insufficient and improper food; whether he can state if this man was medically examined before joining the ship; and if any previous deaths from beri-beri have occurred on this ship?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Board of Trade have received reports of the deaths of Can Cheng and Chong King from beri-beri, and they are aware that this disease is sometimes attributed to insufficient and improper food. Information is not available as to whether or not the men were medically examined before joining the steamers "Strathbeg" and "Jeseric' respectively. No previous deaths from beri-beri have occurred on these vessels during the last three years.
§ Mr. M'GHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea on 5th May, 1913, of a Chinese fireman and trimmer named Ah San, whilst serving on the "Harpalyce," of London; whether he can state the cause of death; how long the man had served on the ship; and whether the man was on duty at the time?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Board of Trade have received a report of the death at sea of Ah San which was attributed to excessive opium smoking. The man had served on the steamer "Harpalyce" for about two and a half months and had, it is understood, been off duty for two days before his death.
§ Mr. M'GHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death from injury on 9th May, 1913, of a Chinese seaman named Kwock Gow, or Zow, on the steamer "St. Albans," of London; whether any inquiry has been held into the circumstances attending the death; whether the man was on duty at the time; and whether he can ascertain from the owners if any compensation has been paid to the relatives of the seaman?
§ Mr. BURNSAn inquiry was held at Brisbane into the circumstances attending the death, owing to an accident, of Kwock Zow, who was on duty at the time of his death. The owners inform me that their agents at Hong Kong dealt with the question of compensation, but that they have no information as to how it was settled.
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§ Mr. M'GHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea on 14th May, 1913, of an Asiatic trimmer named Tazimoolla whilst serving on the "Collegian" of Liverpool; whether he can state the cause of death; how long the man had served on the ship; and whether the man was on duty at the time?
§ Mr. BURNSAn inquiry was held at Calcutta and in this country into the circumstances attending the death of Tazimoolla. He was found in the 'tween deck bunker in an unconscious condition, and is supposed to have fallen when engaged in trimming the coal. He subsequently died from shock and collapse. He had served on the steamer "Collegian" for over two months, and was on duty at the time of the accident.