MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1876 -
EMIGRANT SHIPS.
Mr. A. MOORE asked the President of the
Board of Trade, Whether his attention has
been called to the Reuter's telegram
from New York, which states that -
"The Surgeon of the Steamship -, which
has arrived here from -, reports that
the steerage passengers brought by her
were, at the time they embarked, in a
very weak state from want of food.
Seven of them died on the passage";
whether it is really a fact that they
were in an exhausted state at the time
of embarkation; and, if so, how they
came to be passed by the medical officer
at the port of clearance; and, if this
statement be not correct, whether he
will order a searching inquiry into
their treatment on the voyage?
MR. CHAMBERLAIN: My attention has been
called to the telegram referred to. I
have made inquiries. A telegram has
now been received from New York which
corroborates the statement that seven
persons died on the voyage out; but
these deaths do not seem to have been
connected with the alleged want of
food. One woman died in childbirth;
one man died of consumption; three
children died from diarrhoea (one of
them a cabin passenger), and one from
marasmus, and another from worms. Two
of the children were under one year
old, and two others under four years
old. Of the remaining 903 passengers,
all are reported as arriving in good
health, and as having made no complaints.
The Sanitary Inspector and the Emigration
Officer report that they made a careful
inspection of the emigrants before
starting, and that the passengers were
not in an exhausted condition. The
passengers, the ship, and the food were
inspected before the ship left. There
were no cases of infectious disease
found among the emigrants, the
accommodation was found to be good,
and in accordance with the statutory
enactment, bearing upon it, and the
food, which was sufficient for 32
days, was found to be good. The
passage lasted 12 days. If the hon.
Member will give particulars of any
special point on which he thinks
inquiry ought to be made, I will
consider it; but, as at present
advised, I cannot see anything calling
for further inquiry.
