Suicides of Lascar Seamen. (Hansard, 27 October 1909)

§ Mr. SUMMERBELL
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea, on 15th July, 1909, of an Asiatic seaman named Mahomed Hasson, whilst serving on the steamer "Macedonia," of Belfast; whether any inquiry has been held into the matter; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he bad had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL
The Lascar Seaman Mahomed Hasson jumped overboard from the "Macedonia" three days after leaving Fremantle for Colombo. Inquiry was
held by the Principal Collector at Colombo and the Deputy-Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Tilbury. The man had deserted from the "Mantua" at Fremantle, and had been sentenced to de- 1163W portation from the State after seven days' imprisonment. He was reported by the surgeon of the "Mantua" as being mentally deficient, but had shown no signs of suicidal mania. He was not on duty at the time of his disappearance, and had done no work on board the "Macedonia." No other case of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance has occurred in this vessel during the last three years.

§ Mr. SUMMERBELL
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the suicide at sea, on 4th June, 1909, of an Asiatic seaman named Sk Ebram Sk Alle, whilst serving on the steamer "Locksley Hall," of Glasgow; whether any inquiry has been held into the matter; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; and whether any previous cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel?

§ Mr. CHURCHILL
The Asiatic firemen's cook referred to in the question disappeared from the "Locksley Hall" on the voyage from Bombay to Liverpool. Inquiry has been held by the Deputy Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Liverpool. The man was medically examined before joining: he had been six days on board the "Locksley Hall" as cook, but had had previous service in another vessel as fireman. I cannot say whether he was

Table showing the number of persons employed in the undermentioned trades and industries in the United Kingdom, according to the Census of 1901. (The figures given include both employers and workpeople, but exclude merchants and dealers):—

Occupations. England & Wales. Scotland. Ireland. United Kingdom.

Males. Females. Males. Females. Males. Females. Males. Females. Total.

Mining 679,664 3,078 111,064 1,188 1,263 — 791,991 4,266 796,257

Coke Works ^*Not shown separately in Census Reports.

Shale Oil Not shown separately in Census Reports.

†Cotton Manufacture 196,898 332,233 2,455 12,350 478 1,545 199,831 346,128 545,959

†Woollen and Worsted Manufacture 87,671 122,069 9,261 15,645 2,359 2,838 99,291 140,552 239,843

Tinplate Manufacture 13,048 1,967 90 — — — 13,138 1,967 15,105

‡Iron and Steel Manufacture 85,902 5 23,263 — 4,632 — 113,797 5 113,802

^* The figures shown in the Census Reports for England and Wales, and Scotland, are for "Coke burners and patent fuel workers," the numbers returned being 7,903 males and 291 females in England and Wales, and 210 males and 4 females in Scotland. In the Irish Census Report, the group is "Coke, charcoal, peat—cutters, burners, dealers," and the numbers returned are 98 males and 13 females.

† Exclusive of printing, bleaching and dyeing

‡ The figures given for England and Wales, and Scotland, are those included under the Census headings "Pig-iron manufacture (blast furnaces)," "Puddling furnaces and rolling mills." "Steel smelting and founding"; and for Ireland, "Iron, iron-goods—manufacture." "Steel, steel-goods—manufacture."

1164W
actually on duty at the time of his disappearance, but he was last seen at 6 a.m. going towards his galley. One other case of supposed suicide has occurred in this vessel during the last three years.

Table showing the number of persons employed in the undermentioned trades and industries in the United Kingdom, according to the Census of 1901. (The figures given include both employers and workpeople, but exclude merchants and dealers):—
Occupations.	England & Wales.	Scotland.	Ireland.	United Kingdom.
Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.	Total.
Mining	679,664	3,078	111,064	1,188	1,263	—	791,991	4,266	796,257
Coke Works	^*Not shown separately in Census Reports.
Shale Oil	Not shown separately in Census Reports.
†Cotton Manufacture	196,898	332,233	2,455	12,350	478	1,545	199,831	346,128	545,959
†Woollen and Worsted Manufacture	87,671	122,069	9,261	15,645	2,359	2,838	99,291	140,552	239,843
Tinplate Manufacture	13,048	1,967	90	—	—	—	13,138	1,967	15,105
‡Iron and Steel Manufacture	85,902	5	23,263	—	4,632	—	113,797	5	113,802
^* The figures shown in the Census Reports for England and Wales, and Scotland, are for "Coke burners and patent fuel workers," the numbers returned being 7,903 males and 291 females in England and Wales, and 210 males and 4 females in Scotland. In the Irish Census Report, the group is "Coke, charcoal, peat—cutters, burners, dealers," and the numbers returned are 98 males and 13 females.
† Exclusive of printing, bleaching and dyeing
‡ The figures given for England and Wales, and Scotland, are those included under the Census headings "Pig-iron manufacture (blast furnaces)," "Puddling furnaces and rolling mills." "Steel smelting and founding"; and for Ireland, "Iron, iron-goods—manufacture." "Steel, steel-goods—manufacture."