§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, What life-saving gear in the shape of boats, folding boats, rafts, life belts, and life buoys was carried by the lost emigrant ship Kapanda when she left Plymouth on December 17th with 313 souls on board, and for how many persons in the aggregate this provided floating apparatus in case of accident; and, further, if he can state how many lives were lost from British ships during the year 1886, and what 645 proportion of shipwrecks to the whole number were caused by collisions?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Kapunda had on board two life-boats and four other boats, of a total capacity of 1,637.5 cubic feet, which would give, at the rate of 10 cubic feet per passenger, accommodation for 163 statute adults. She had no folding boats nor rafts. There were 18 life belts and six life buoys on board. The law on the subject was complied with, and the inspecting officers have no authority and no power to require more. I am not yet in a position to give particulars of the number of lives lost during the year 1886; but during 1885—the last year for which the figures are complete—there were lost 278 passengers and 1,797 crow. The proportion of shipwrecks caused by collision to the whole number of shipwrecks in 1885, was 10.25 percent.
§ MR. HOWARD VINCENTsaid, in consequence of the Answer given, that there was not boat accommodation for one-half of the number on board, he should ask the right hon Gentleman the Leader of the House—["Order!"]