DR. CAMERONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, when speaking at the dinner of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, he stated that the loss of life at sea had been reduced to 1 in 256, he was speaking of the total loss of life at sea from all causes, or whether he was speaking of the loss of life under two headings alone of several under which the loss of life at sea is classified; and what were the headings under which loss of life at sea are classified which were not included by him in the figures he gave?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.When speaking on the occasion to which the hon. Member refers, I was not stating the "total loss of life at sea from all causes," but, as I clearly explained, only the loss of life among seamen arising from wrecks and casualties at sea to merchant ships registered in the United Kingdom—namely, lives lost in direct consequence of accidents causing total loss or damage to the ships. The corresponding figures for 1881 are 1 in 79. The loss of life which is not included in the foregoing figures was that which occurred from drowning and other accidents, although the ships were in no way damaged or in danger.