§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Government are taking any steps to prepare a scheme for establishing a complete system of telegraphic communication around the coasts of these Islands, with the view of saving life and property in case of shipwrecks, and of giving news of the movements of war ships in time of war and of merchant vessels in time of peace; and, whether 1320 such a scheme will include the absorption into some Government system of the Shipping News Stations at present maintained by Lloyd's Committee?
THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL IIICKS-BEACTI) (Bristol, W.)I can only repeat what I recently stated to a large and influential deputation, that the subject of communication with light-vessels and lighthouses was considered last year by a Departmental Committee, who have expressed an opinion that the experiments at the Sunk Light Ship should be continued for a further period of 18 months. I would, however, point out that the question of naval defence of the country, and the question of communication between Coastguards and distant Signal Stations, are matters for the Admiralty and Post Office, subject to the Treasury, rather than for the Board of Trade.