§ MR. GOURLEY (Sunderland)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will be good enough to state 652 the nature of the instructions issued to the Board of Trade Surveyors relative to the new Load Line Law; and whether he is aware that doubts exist regarding its application or otherwise to vessels already sailing and marked under Lloyd's freeboard rules?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe instructions to Surveyors include the tables of the Load Line Committee, with a Memorandum on their application and directions as to the course to be followed when owners apply for load lines to be fixed by the Board of Trade. The provisions of the law apply to all British vessels, whether previously marked by Lloyd's or not, and I have not heard of any real difficulties having arisen in the matter.