§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can obtain and furnish information as to the salaries paid to masters of steamships in the mercantile marine; and whether he is aware that there has been no increase in the past ten years in the pay of certificated officers, although, in common with other classes of the community, their expenses on shore have increased considerably in this period?
Mr. BUXTONI have no official information as to the salaries paid to masters in the mercantile marine. The tables showing the progress of merchant shipping contain information with regard to the predominant rates of wages paid to certificated mates, which does not bear out the suggestion that no increase has taken place in the last ten years.