Mr. David Adams:

asked the Minister of Shipping whether he is. aware that Chinese seamen, many of whom were born in Hong Kong, have been refused by certain British shipping firms the £5 war risk bonus awarded to all British officers and men of the Mercantile Marine, which sum is independent of wages, upon the grounds that the wages of these seamen, which were exceptionally low, have been raised; and whether he is taking steps to secure the payment of this bonus to these men?

Rates of pay, including bonus, are not a matter for my determination. As stated in the reply of 6th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan), the increase of remuneration given to Chinese seamen which can properly be ascribed to war conditions has taken the form, in part, of an increase in the basic wage and in part of a bonus. In all the cases the increase exceeds £5 a month.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider this matter? Is it not anomalous that foreign seamen should not only have had an increase in conformity with the British increase to seamen but have had a £5 war-risk bonus, whereas British subjects from Hong Kong receive only £2? Why should there be such a discrimination?

It is only a question of the wording or the label which may be attached to the increase in wages which in fact has taken place. My information with regard to the two principal companies concerned is that the total increase in one case is one of £7, of which £6 5s. can properly be ascribed to war conditions, and in the other case the total increase due to war conditions is over £5.

Will the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter again, to see whether he does not regard this statement made by the shipowners as a little deceptive?

I have the matter under consideration at the present time.

Mr. Adams:

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that British nationals, though they may be of Chinese extraction, are entitled to the bonus apart from an increase in wages?

I think I have already answered that point.

Will the Minister consider that Chinese seamen, while accepting a reasonable arrangement about their wages, do regard the payment of bonus as a matter of principle affecting the equality of races?