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29. The inspection of ships' provisions by the Board of Trade is, we believe, excellent and efficacious as far as it goes. But we think that it might with advantage be extended by giving to the Board of Trade power in any case in which they think fit to inspect provisions, as to their quality, in the case of all vessels whose probable voyage exceeds twenty-one days' duration.
80. We have had before us a good deal of evidence with regard to the accommodation afforded to sailors and firemen on board ship—evidence of a varying and even conflicting character. It seems clear that such accommodation has improved in recent years, and is much better in the newer classes of vessels. Nor have many complaints been made of accommodation in larger vessels and the liners. We think that in matters such as the provision of proper stoves, the provision of tables for meals, or even a separate place for meals, it would be a wise step on the part of all shipowners to see that their ships are as well furnished, as in many cases they undoubtedly are. But we do not think that legislative action is called for; we do not desire to express any difference of opinion from the Royal Commission on Labour as to an increase of the space, although on this point few complaints came before us.
81. As regards medical attention, we think that it would be advantageous if masters and officers of vessels were allowed voluntarily to offer themselves for examination, and to receive certificates, in the elements of medical knowledge. Further than this we do not think it necessary or practicable to go. The evidence before us does not show that any strong feeling exists among sailors as to the want of medical attention, and with the aid of the book supplied to them and a proper supply of medical stores, masters succeed well in dealing with the ordinary cases of illness or accident.
82. From the point of view both of the safety of ships and of the comfort of the British seamen employed, we think that it would be of great advantage if an adequate knowledge of English in foreign seamen serving in British ships could be secured, and we recommend that after a certain period (say three years) the local superintendent of the Board of Trade should be empowered to forbid any foreign seaman to be shipped on a British ship unless he possess a knowledge of the English language sufficient for the understanding of orders; but we think that any such provision should not apply to Lascars or other Asiatics or Africans.
83. On the whole, we believe the system of continuous discharge certificates to be founded on a sound principle and to be productive of excellent results. But there is reason to think that, in some instances, a seaman who receives a 'decline to report" as regards character believes himself to be the object of injustice. We feel considerable difficulty in suggesting any appropriate remedy. If the refusal to report be based on some definite charge, it would be comparatively easy to meet the justice of the case by allowing a reference in the nature of an appeal to some constituted authority. But in many, probably the great majority of cases, the refusal proceeds not on any definite charge, but on the belief of the master that the seaman's conduct as a whole does not deserve commendation. In such a case, to give a reference to any authority would probably be to expose to a criticism possibly incompetent, necessarily imperfectly informed, a discretion which it is essential should be freely and fearlessly exercised, and might tend to encourage in masters what at present probably only too often exists, a good-natured or indifferent tolerance of misconduct or incompetence. On the whole, however, we are inclined to think that there might with safety be given a reference by way of appeal to the local superintendent of the Board of Trade in all cases in which the master gives a bad character or "declines to report." We believe that the superintendent would in most
