§ Mr. STACPOOLEasked the President of the Board of Trade, If he would state to the House the number of prosecutions instituted since the 1st day of January 1874 by the Board of Trade in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland respectively, against persons for sending unseaworthy ships to sea; the number of convictions; and the sentences respectively pronounced?
§ Sir CHARLES ADDERLEYEight prosecutions have been instituted by direction of the Board of Trade, since the 1st of January, 1874. Two of these have been in England and three in Ireland. None have been instituted in Scotland. There have been three convictions; three cases in which the magistrates refused to commit; and two cases are pending. The sentences pronounced were as follows:—In the first case, in which two persons were prosecuted, the sentence was two months' imprisonment, and a fine of £150 against each defendant; in the second case the sentence was two months' imprisonment and a fine of £300; in the third case the sentence was two months' imprisonment. Before the late Act, passed temporarily at the end of last Session, there had only been two prosecutions. Sufficient time has not elapsed to test the working of the new Act; but if the old Act had been as comprehensive as the new, probably there would have been more action, and the new Act has no doubt been more effectual in preventing the offence than in prosecuting offenders. The Report of the Solicitor of the Board of Trade, dated the 31st of January last, which was presented early in the Session, contains full information upon the subject of these prosecutions up to that date.