HC Deb 29 September 1909 vol 11 cc1393-5W
Mr. SUMMERBELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from beriberi, on 4th July, 1908, of an Asiatic seaman named Li Ching, whilst serving on the steamer "Queen Amelie," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease had occurred on this vessel?

The HON. MEMBER

further asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from beriberi of an Asiatic seaman named Hossbinallee Semjoor Meah, whilst serving on the steamer "Clan Cunning," of Glasgow, on 12th April, 1909; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; and whether any previous cases of death from this disease had occurred on this vessel?

(2) Whether his attention had been called to the death at sea from heart failure, on 9th April, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Mahd Kohl Chidia Ali, whilst serving on the steamer "Arracan," of Glasgow; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log-book had been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any other cases of death from heart failure, heat stroke, suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel; and

(3) Whether his attention had been called to the disappearance at sea, on 30th May, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Esmal Sul Sk Alley, whilst serving on the steamer "Lord Kelvin," of Liverpool; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel; whether he had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine room; how much coal the engine-room hands were required to work each 24 hours; whether the engineer's log book had been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors; and whether any other cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I have made inquiry into these cases.

I am not aware whether the seaman referred to in the first question was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since the 31st March, 1908, and had had previous sea service. Only one other death from beriberi has occurred on this vessel during the last three years.

The seaman referred to in the second question was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since 24th July, 1908, and had had previous sea service. No other deaths on this vessel from beriberi have occurred during the last three years.

The fireman referred to in the third question was medically examined before joining. He was engaged at Rangoon on 8th January last. I am not informed whether he had any previous sea service, but he is stated to have been an experienced man. He was on duty when taken ill in the afternoon watch on 7th April, but not at the time of his death. At noon on 7th April the temperature of the engine-room was 106 degrees, of the stokehold 90 degrees, and of the bunkers 84 degrees. The coal consumption was about 32 tons per day, and there were nine firemen, and nine trimmers. The engineer's log-book has been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors. No other death from heart failure, heat-stroke, suicide, or supposed suicide has occurred on this vessel during the last three years, but there was one case of disappearance, that of the chief engineer.

I do not know whether the seaman referred to in the fourth question was medically examined before joining. He had served on the vessel since 24th May last. He had had previous sea service. He was on duty at the time. The temperature of the engine-room was 100 degrees, of the stokehold 94 degrees, and of the bunker 100 degrees. The coal consumption was 24 tons per day, and there were nine firemen and six trimmers. As the vessel has been trading abroad since the occurrence, the engineer's logbook has not been produced to the Board of Trade surveyors. No other cases of suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel during the last three years.