§ Mr. HAYESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in numerous cases when seamen are being engaged the ship's articles are not read out in accordance with the Board of Trade Regulations; and will he, in the interests of seamen, issue instructions that this must be done in every case?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Merchant Shipping Act requires that, where seamen are engaged for service in a foreign-going ship, the Board of Trade Superintendent shall cause the agreement to be read over and explained to each seaman, or otherwise ascertain that each seaman understands the same before he signs it. Superintendents have standing instructions to this effect, and I have no reason to think that the instructions are not followed. A Superintendent is not required by the Act to read over the agreement to a seaman if he is satisfied that the seaman understands it.