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68
The crew's quarters were of the usual pattern, namely, divided in the
centre by a fore and aft bulkhead, the starboard side being allotted to sailors
and the port side to firemen.
Each side was provided with two seven-inch glazed ports in the side of
the vessel, but not otherwise provided with any means of admitting daylight.
As is also usual, the bunks occupied the same side of the quarters as the
glazed ports, and consequently greatly obstructed what little daylight could be
admitted by this means.
The floor space was also found to be very limited.
In reply to my letter to the owners, they stated that "the same has been
built to the requirements of the Board of Trade and duly passed by them."
A letter on the subject to the Surveyors' Department, Board of Trade,
obtained the reply that the Board's Officer at Cardiff, where the vessel
subsequently went, had inspected the crew's quarters and had certified that
"both floor area and the light were equal to the Board's requirements."{These are 12 square feet per head, and also that there shall be "so much
provision for light, when the ship is new and the paint clean, that if one"third
of it be closed, it will be possible to read the print of an ordinary
"newspaper in any part of the space.")
I have not yet had an opportunity of ascertaining whether any alteration
was made by the owners as a result of my representations and previous to the
visit of the Board of Trade's Officer at Cardiff, but in view of the conditions
found and reported by your Sanitary Inspector, this point will be carefully
gone into whenever the vessel again returns to the Port of London.
I understand the Merchant Shipping Act will be amended during the next
Session of Parliament, and the Board of Trade should be urged to introduce
clauses which will improve the present conditions of life for seamen, especially
in the following direction :—
(a) Crew's quarters should not be placed in the fore part of the ship.
(b) Improved and efficient ventilation, lighting and heating.
(c) Increase of cubic space.
(d) Separate mess room and wash-house.
If crews were berthed aft, all these requirements could be carried out with
the greatest facility.