§ MR. NORWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the four gentlemen who estimated the insurance value of certain steamers made the usual survey and examination of the vessels and their machinery to enable them to arrive at a just conclusion; whether two of them, viz., Mr. White (underwriter to the Marine Insurance Company) and Mr. Stringer (formerly a shipbroker) are professional valuers; and, whether he, before accepting their valuation as authoritative, took any steps to inform himself as to their possessing any scientific or practical acquaintance with the construction and values of ships and machinery?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAIN, in reply, said, that he had ordered copies of the Question to be forwarded to the gentlemen referred to, and as soon as he received their replies he would give a full answer to the Question.