§ MR. O'LEARYasked the President of the Board of Trade, What standard of fitness (if any) has been adopted to guide in the selection of persons to act as Surveyors of unseaworthy ships under the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1875 and 1876?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYIf the hon. Member means the officers appointed under the Act of 1875—there is no Act yet of 1876—to superintend survey districts and to act without first referring to the Board of Trade, the duties of these officers are stated in the instructions laid before Parliament, and are chiefly of superintendence and authority, but also of practical survey when necessary. The standard of fitness is a man's proved capacity to fulfil these duties. There were 10 appointed, and about 1,000 applicants, therefore 990 948 disappointed, who, of course, think the 10 were unfit. If the hon. Gentleman considers any unfit men were appointed, or that any of the 990 were more fit than those selected, he had better say so openly, and not by covert insinuation. The standard of fitness for the surveyors in each of these superintending officers' districts, appointed under former Acts, is proof of having served well in engineering factories, dockyards, and building yards, and of possessing the requisite practical knowledge and experience, having a character for tact and judgment, and being generally well fitted to deal with technical persons in their own branches. A surveyor is chosen provisionally, put through a course of practical examination, and taken on trial for the first year.