MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a Copy of the Regulations for preventing collisions at sea now in force, together with a Copy of the Regulations recommended for adoption by the Washington International Maritime Conference, the two being printed in parallel columns, so as to show the alterations proposed; whether he has taken, or proposes to take, any means of ascertaining the views of the Chamber of Shipping, of the shipping trade generally, and of masters of steamboats, sailing vessels, fishing vessels, and other small craft, as to the proposed alterations; and whether he will give facilities for the discussion of the proposed rules before they are promulgated by Order in Council?
§ *MR. MUNDELLAThe existing Regulations for preventing collisions at sea, and those recommended by the Washington Conference, are shown in parallel columns in Appendix A of Parliamentary Paper C6664–1892. Since the Conference the subject has been carefully considered by a Committee composed of representatives of the Admiralty, Board of Trade, Trinity House, and the shipping 1376 trade, whose Reports contained in Parliamentary Papers C6293–1891 and 06833–1892 have been adopted by the Admiralty and the Board of Trade. The Regulations for fishing vessels are separated from the general International Regulations, and as regards the latter I do not think there is any occasion for further delay, or that there exist objections winch have not been considered by the Committee. I shall, however, be ready to receive any observations on the subject from the hon. Gentleman.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs it not a fact that the Board of Trade in July last undertook to lay the Regulations before Parliament and give an opportunity for objections, if any, to be raised? How can objections be raised if no opportunity is afforded of raising them?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI must ask for notice of the question.