§ MR. ROGERSsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, By what authority the proceeds of unclaimed wreck, to which the right of private owners had been acknowledged by the Crown, have been retained by the receivers since such acknowledgment of claim?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSON, in reply, said, he had obtained information on the subject to which the Question of the hon. Gentleman referred. Under the Merchant Ship- 1914 ping Act, wreck was delivered over to the persons who made a primê facie title to it; but if adverse claims were put in, the proceeds of the wreck were held by the receiver until the question of title was decided, because it formed no part of the duty of the Board of Trade to settle any question of disputed title. The question of the hon. Gentleman pointed to a dispute between the Duchy of Cornwall and certain Cornish proprietors: so long as the matter was in dispute, the Board of Trade would hold their hand, and only deliver the proceeds to those legally entitled to receive them. The Board of Trade had no authority but to deliver the proceeds to the party having the title to receive them—it was not for them to settle the title.