§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on 25th March, 1909, at seven p.m., the steamer "Thornaby," of West Hartlepool, engaged a crew on board at South Shields instead of at the mercantile marine office; whether, of the six deck hands, only three were qualified A.B.'s, the remainder being engaged as sailors, without producing discharge books; whether the deputy superintendent, who witnessed the engagement, reportd the inefficient manning of this ship to the detaining officer; whether any officers of the Board of Trade visited this ship for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the crew; and whether any report on the matter has been submitted to the Board of Trade?
Mr. TENNANTFrom information I have received from the superintendent of880W the Mercantile Marine Office at North Shields it appears that the crew of the steamship "Thornaby" was engaged on. board the vessel at that port on 24th March last. The deck portion of the crew consisted of three duly-qualified A.B.'s and three sailors. Of these six men, four produced continuous discharge books and two stated that they had lost them. The superintendent reports that the requirements of the Instructions recently issued as to manning were complied with.