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The report of the Committee appointed by the Board of Trade to inquire into certain questions affecting the Mercantile Marine has been issued. The following is the full text of the document:

MINUTE OF APPOINTMENT.

At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, this thirteenth day of January, 1902.

Present:

The Right Hon. Gerald William Balfour, M.P.

The Board of Trade are pleased to appoint the following gentlemen, viz.:

to be a Committee to inquire into and report upon the following matters:

(1) The causes that have led to the employment of a large and increasing proportion of Lascars and foreigners in the British merchant service, and the effect of such employment upon the reserve of seamen of British nationality available for naval purposes in time of peace or war;

(2) The sufficiency or otherwise of the existing law and practice for securing proper food, accommodation, medical attention, and reasonable conditions of comfort and well-being for seamen on British merchant ships;

(3) The prevalence of desertion and other offences against discipline in the mercantile marine;

And to make such recommendations with respect to these matters as they may think fit.

The Board of Trade are further pleased to appoint Mr. G. E. Baker to be secretary to the said Committee.

(Signed) &emsp;&emsp;

REPORT.

To the Right Hon. G. W. Balfour, M.P., President of the Board of Trade.

,—In accordance with your minute, dated Jan. 18, 1902, we have considered the various questions into which we were appointed to inquire, and we have the honour to report as follows:

1. We have been anxious to obtain the views of persons of practical experience, especially of the leading officials of the Board of Trade and of