§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether, having regard to the great and increasing frequency of collisions at sea, he has satisfied himself that these are, for the most part, due to inevitable natural causes and the crowded state of the seas, or whether there is any reason to suppose that they are to any considerable extent attributable to any defect or deficiency in the Rule of the Road at Sea, or in the Maritime Regulations; and, in the latter case, whether he will consider the advisability of consulting the responsible authorities of other countries with a view to improving these Rules by general agreement?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.), in reply, said, the first part of the Question was matter of opinion rather than fact. He did not himself think there was reason to suppose that collisions at sea were to any considerable extent attributable to any defect or deficiency in the Rule of the Road at Sea. That was one of the subjects, amongst others, to be considered by the International Conference next year.
§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)asked whether the captains of the great liners running to America had been consulted on this matter by the Departmental Committee; and whether their opinions corresponded with those of the Assistant Secretary of the Marine Department of the Board of Trade?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHasked for Notice of the Question?