Miss Wardasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in order to allay financial anxiety, he will arrange with owners of merchant ships torpedoed during the war, to notify the next-of-kin as to their legal claims, and the name and address of the union secretary?
§ Sir J. GilmourI have been asked to reply. I am informed that owners have been asked by the Shipowners' Associations to send to relatives of seamen who are killed information as to the compensation arrangements by forwarding the official leaflets describing the manner in which claims should be made. Information as to membership of unions is not necessarily in an owner's possession, but I am satisfied that shipowners will take any action in their power to assist the next-of-kin. The superintendents of Mercantile Marine Offices have already been instructed to give all possible assistance to those who inquire as to their position.