§ MR. MOLLOYasked the President of the Board of Trade, If his attention has been drawn to the very inadequate precautions taken by the passenger steamboats plying between Folkestone and 1161 Dover and the French Coast, for the protection of life in case of accident; and, if it is a fact that these steamers carry some hundreds of passengers in a single voyage, and with only four small boats for saving life in the event of accident by collision or otherwise?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN,in reply, said, that he had answered a. Question with reference to this subject in the course of last Session. He then stated that the number and size of the small boats to be provided by these steamers was settled by statute in accordance with the tonnage of the ships, and that the owners of the steamers in every case had complied with the letter of the law. He had also stated that he had communicated with the proprietors of these steamers urging them to make provision for buoyant seats and other fittings to be used in case of accident. He now intended, on the occasion of the next survey of these steamers, to request the Surveyor of the Board of Trade to report how far his suggestions had been carried out.