§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that four Arab seamen were sentenced by a naval court held at Naples during 1908 for disobedience to the lawful commands of the master of the steamer "White Jacket"; whether he is aware that they were sent as prisoners on the steamer "Ormuz" to undergo their term of imprisonment in this country; whether he has received any report from the Consul with regard to the case; and, if so, whether he will lay a copy of the report upon the Table of the House?
Mr. TENNANTThe Board of Trade have received from his Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Naples the report of a naval court held there on 24th February last, when four Arab seamen of the "White Jacket" were sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment under section 221 (b) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. The men were sent to this country on the ss. "Ormuz" under section 67 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, to complete the remainder of the term of imprisonment. It is not the practice of the Board of Trade to publish reports of the proceedings of Naval courts, and I do not think there would be any advantage in laying this report—which is a lengthy document—on the Table of the House.