§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that on the 22nd of May forty-four Chinese seamen were engaged on the British steamer "Danube," and gave their address and place of residence, at 8, Limehouse Causeway, East; whether he can state if the proprietor of this house is licensed under the London County Council's by-laws as to seamen's 2949W lodging-houses and, if so, what number of seamen it is licensed to accommodate; if he had a number in excess of his licence, what steps, if any, will he take to prevent such overcrowding; and (2) whether he is aware that the London County Council's by-laws as to seamen's lodging-houses, Section 30, provides that in any case where the keeper of a lodging-house has been guilty of a breach of the Merchant Shipping Acts, or allows his house to be kept where drunkenness, gambling, opium-smoking, immorality, or fraudulent practices prevail, the London County Council may suspend or revoke all such licences to such keeper; and whether he will advise the London County Council to act on this Section in all cases where the police obtain convictions?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI have been asked by my right hon. Friend to answer these questions. Inquiries are being made as to the facts indicated in the questions, and the Board of Trade will communicate with the London County Council on the matter, and inform the hon. Member of the result.
§ Mr. NOLANasked the Home Secretary whether a Chinese seaman named Ah Kow was engaged on the steamer "Danube" on the 22nd May, 1916, as a seaman, and gave his place of residence as 38, Limehouse Causeway, Poplar; and whether the occupier of 38, Limehouse Causeway, Poplar, is licensed under the London County Council's by-laws to keep seamen lodgers?
Mr. FREDERICK HALLasked the Home Secretary whether a Chinese seaman, named Ho Soo, was engaged on the steamer "Queen Eugenie" on 23rd May, 1916, as a seaman, and gave his place of residence as 50, Pennyfields, Poplar; and if the occupier of 50, Pennyfields, Poplar, is licensed under the London County Council's by-laws to keep seamen lodgers?
§ Mr. KENYONasked the Home Secretary whether a Chinese seaman, named Chu Sang, was engaged on the steamer "Queen Eugenie" on the 23rd May, 1916, as a seaman, and gave his place of residence as 8, Pennyfields, Poplar; and if the occupier of 8, Pennyfields, Poplar, is licensed under the London County Council's by-laws to keep seamen lodgers?
§ Mr. REDDYasked the Home Secretary whether a Chinese seaman, named Ah Ting, was engaged on the steamer "Danube," on the 22nd May, 1916, as a 2950W seaman, and gave his place of residence as 45, Limehouse Causeway, Poplar; and if the occupier of 45, Limehouse Causeway, Poplar, is licensed under the London County Council's by-laws to keep seamen lodgers?
§ Mr. SUTTONasked the Home Secretary whether a Chinese seaman, named San Fat, was engaged on the steamer "Queen Eugenie," on the 23rd May, 1916, as a seaman, and gave his place of residence as 10, Pennyfields, Poplar; and if the occupier of 10, Pennyfields, Poplar, is licensed under the London County Council's bylaws to keep seamen lodgers?
§ Mr. PRETYMANMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer these questions, and I will answer them together. The administration of the by-laws in regard to seamen's lodging houses in London is a matter for the London County Council. I will communicate with the council with regard to the points raised in these questions, and will inform the hon. Members of the result.