§ CAPTAIN PIMasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, "Whether there have been complaints of want of buoyancy and stability in Her Majesty's ships; and, whether, considering the acknowledged efficiency of cork mattresses for the purpose of saving life at sea in cases of fire, wreck, or foundering, it is the intention of the Admiralty to introduce these mattresses generally in Her Majesty's Naval Service?
§ MR. HUNT, in reply, said, he was not aware of any complaints of the nature referred to; but if any had reached the hon. Member he should be happy to have them passed on to him. The question of the introduction of cork mattresses had recently been under consideration and experiments directed to be made. It was found that when cork mattresses had once become damp, either from the state of the atmosphere or otherwise, it was exceedingly difficult to dry them again; and, under those circumstances, they were not thought suitable for the naval service.