§ MR. MACIVERasked the President of the Board of Trade, What opportunity will be afforded, in case the House should agree to the withdrawal of the Merchant Shipping Bill, for a reply to be made to the charges which were brought against the shipowners to whom he referred in his speech on the Second Reading of the Bill; and, whether that 218 speech has since been officially published, and is now being circulated; and, at whose expense, and with what object?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINIn reply to the hon. Member, I must disclaim his statement that I have brought charges against the shipowners to whom I referred in my speech on the second reading of the Bill. On that occasion I stated facts to illustrate my contention that over-insurance largely prevails; but, in the present state of the law, shipowners who over-insure are not guilty of any offence. In further answer to the Question, I have to say, first, that if any of the persons referred to wish to dispute the accuracy of the facts stated, the columns of the Press are, of course, open to them, and, as a matter of fact, several persons have written to the papers criticizing my statements. I am glad to say that I have been able in every case to produce evidence confirming my original statement; and that, with one trifling exception, which has no bearing on the general argument, I have not found occasion to withdraw or modify a single fact or figure stated to the House. In the second place, I have to point out that I shall lay before the Royal Commission which is to be appointed to inquire into the subject all the facts stated in my speech, and many others of a similar kind; and that shipowners who are inclined to question these statements will, of course, have an opportunity of producing their evidence in opposition. The hon. Gentleman asks me whether my speech has been officially published, and is now being circulated? It has not been officially published; but, as I have already stated to the House, I have supplied copies of the Parliamentary Report to shipowners and others who have applied to me for it, and are interested in the subject. The hon. Gentleman inquires at whose expense, and with what object, the speech has been circulated. The object is the information of the public on a matter of national importance; and as regards the expense, I have hitherto assumed the entire responsibility myself, but I shall be very happy to receive a contribution in aid from the hon. Member.
§ MR. MACIVERsaid, that after what had fallen from, the right hon. Gentleman, he would give Notice that on the 219 Motion that the Speaker should leave the Chair he would ask the leave of the House to adjourn the debate in order to discuss a question of urgent public importance—namely, the preservation of life and property at sea.
§ SIR FREDERICK MILNERasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, inasmuch as he has decided to withdraw the Merchant Shipping Bill, and is still of opinion that the present state of the Law occasions a preventable loss of life, he will take care that competent officials of the Board of Trade carry out to the letter their duties, with a view to preventing unseaworthy or overladen ships leaving our ports?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINIn reply to the Question of the hon. Baronet, I have to say that the officials of the Board of Trade will continue to carry out their arduous duties to the best of their abilities; but I have already given my reasons, in the debate upon the second reading of the Merchant Shipping Bill, for thinking that it is impossible for them to exercise such a supervision as would effectually prevent unseaworthy or overladen ships from leaving our ports.