§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether any steps have been taken to carry out the decisions of the National Maritime Board with regard to the rates of wages to be paid to officers and men of the Merchant Service engaged in the coastwise trade; and, if not, whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?
Colonel WILSONAll possible steps are taken by the Ministry of Shipping to see that owners of coastwise shipping carry into effect the decisions of the National Maritime Board on any of the vessels coming within the tonnage limits dealt with by the Board. As the board has no statutory authority, owners of vessels not requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping cannot be compelled to adhere to these decisions, although all but an insignificant number do so. Any cases of departure from the decisions of the Board, on being communicated to the Ministry, are investigated, and every effort is made to induce owners to comply with the recommendations made, usually with success.