HC Deb 20 February 1882 vol 266 c1100
CAPTAIN PRICE

asked the President of the Board of Trade, If he is aware that during the last three months of 1881 no less than thirty-five vessels were reported at Lloyd's as having lost their rudders, and 52 as having their rudders damaged; and, taking these facts into consideration, and the danger caused thereby to our sea-going population, and the further circumstance that all Her Majesty's ships are fitted with spare rudders, what steps is he prepared to take to render it obligatory for all emigrant and passenger ships to take the same precautions?

MR. CHAMBERLAIN

, in reply, said, the figures in the first part of the Question were correct, although the damage done in many cases had been slight. He had no power to compel the use, by passenger or emigrant ships, of spare rudders; but he might add that part of the examination of masters and mates under the present system entailed their ability to rig up a jury or temporary rudder in any case of danger.