96. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the companies of Alfred Holt and Company and the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company have stopped the £10 war bonus paid to Chinese seamen and are asking the Chinese crews to sign new articles at £7 17s. per month; and, as this is a danger to the wages paid to British crews, what action he proposes to take.
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§ Mr. BarnesI understand that the position is approximately as stated by my hon. Friend where Chinese crews are engaged in the East—the £10 war risk money only being paid to those Chinese seamen engaged in this country. The point raised in the second part of the Question can, I am sure, be left in the hands of the National Maritime Board which is fully representative of the British steamship owners, officers and men.