HC Deb 02 June 1875 vol 224 cc1294-5
MR. MAC IVER

presented a Petition from Working Men's Associations connected with the Shipping Trades of the Port of Liverpool, and expressed his entire concurrence with their views. He said that immediate legislation for the prevention of overloading was not more necessary than a proper system of survey as regards vessels not already sufficiently surveyed by the Registry Societies. Shipowners might be beyond the reach of legislation based on the principle of personal responsibility; but their vessels were within reach of legislation based on the principle of inspection.

The following is the text of the Petition:— To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the United Shipping Trades Council, being the representatives of working men engaged in trades connected with the Shipping of the Port of Liverpool. Respectfully showeth— That your petitioners earnestly desire to call the attention of your honourable House to the great and, as your petitioners believe, preventable loss of life which occurs by the foundering of vessels. That, in the judgment of your petitioners, much of this loss of life arises from the absence of a proper system of inspection in regard to the conditions under which vessels go to sea. That your petitioners believe many Shipowners are personally unacquainted with practical details either in regard to the construction and repairing of vessels, or in regard to their loading. That your petitioners desire to see Shipowners made responsible for the condition in which their vessels go to sea; but cannot close their eyes to the fact that it is very seldom done. That your petitioners believe many Shipowners are beyond the reach of such legislation, but that their vessels would not be equally beyond the reach of a proper system of Government inspection. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your honourable House will be pleased to provide such inspection, and will during the present Session of Parliment enact a short measure such as shall not merely prevent overloading, but shall also cause the vessels themselves to be built of sufficient strength and to be maintained in a proper state of repair. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, &c.