§ Mr. JOHN WILLIAMSasked the President whether he is aware that the deportation of the Chinese from South Africa has created a considerable amount of employment for white subjects in that country; and whether he will, in order to create employment for British seamen resident in the United Kingdom, take steps to prevent the employment of Chinese seamen on British ships?
Mr. BUXTONInformation has reached the Board of Trade through His Majesty's Trade Commissioner at Cape Town which bears out the suggestion in the first part of this question. As regards the second part, there is no legislative restriction on the employment of foreign seamen in the British Mercantile Marine, provided they comply with the requirements of Section 12 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, and prove that they have a sufficient knowledge of the English language to understand 1771W the necessary orders that may be given to them in the course of the performance of their duties.