§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanarkshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, as Lloyd's public Proving Houses are licensed by the Board of Trade for testing chain cables and anchors, and as 1464 they have several Proving Houses in different districts, are the directors, who are directly connected with the above trades, allowed to interfere with or have a preponderating influence over the superintendents (who are appointed by the said Lloyd and Co.) to the detriment of other manufacturers; and if it is true that cables, after being once tested and rejected, and returned, are sometimes allowed to pass no further trial?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD of TRADE (Sir M. Him BEACH,) Bristol, W.The tests referred to by the hon. Member are statutory tests. I am not aware that any person can have any influence whatever in regard to the applications of these tests to any chain cables. I am making inquiries as regards the second part of the hon. Member's question, and will communicate the result to him.