§ MR. HICKMAN (Wolverhampton, W.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to a discussion which has been going on for some time in The Engineer upon cables and anchors, and particularly to a letter published 19th February, signed "Valentine," which says—
There are thousands of test certificates sent out with chains and anchors that have never been near a testing machine, in fact I myself have signed thousands;whether he is aware that it is the practice of Lloyd's, in re-classing ships, not to have the cables and anchors re-tested; in fact, that, having once passed the statutory test, it is taken for granted that cables are good for all time; whether he is aware that the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board find it necessary to change the bow length of their Light Ship cables once a year at least, and the whole cables every three years; and, whether he will take steps to remedy the evils referred to?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. MUNDELLA) (Sheffield, Brightside)The Chain Cables and Anchors Acts prohibit sale or purchase of chain cables which are not tested, stamped, and certified; but this provision only applies to chain cables for British ships. There is a large business done in chains for other purposes as well as for export; and I understand that great irregularity does exist in issuing private test certificates for these chains and cables; but it is outside the Act. I am informed that it is the practice of the surveyors of Lloyd's Register Committee to make a very careful examination of all chain cables on re-classing ships, and to require any parts to be renewed or re-tested where necessary. I am also informed that the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board require a very careful examination of the mooring chains of their vessels to be made once a year, and that the parts of the chain cables in contact with the ground are renewed once a year. The chain cables of passenger steamers and passenger ships are examined by surveyors of the Board of Trade annually, and those of 758 ships classed in Lloyd's Register are examined by that Society, and chain cables of all ships detained by the Board of Trade officers as unsafe can be condemned if they are inefficient. I do not see what further steps I can take beyond instructing the Department to be very careful to attend to the provisions of the Acts. I have no power to interfere with the manufacture in this country of chains or chain cables for home or foreign buyers, to whom the Acts do not apply, and who do not desire to have the security of our public tests.