Mr. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received representations from the Bristol District of the Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union with regard to the signing on of the crew of the s.s. "Reindeer" on 28th February at that port; whether a protest was made to the Board of Trade officer against intimidation being practised by officials of another trade union on Board of Trade premises; whether a number of seamen were prevented by such intimidation from obtaining employment; and what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of the intimidation referred to?
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§ Mr. BALDWINRepresentations have been received from the Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union about the signing on of the crew of the "Reindeer" on 28th February; and on 29th February two seamen complained at the local Board of Trade office that they had been prevented from obtaining employment as members of the crew of the vessel. I have no information as to seamen being prevented by intimidation from obtaining employment, and there is no power to interfere with the discretion of the master in selecting men for employment.