§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade at what date the new Regulations for side lights of ocean vessels will come into operation; whether the new Regulations only apply to British vessels, and differ materially from those which at present apply to foreign vessels and whether the Board of Trade has obtained the approval for these new Regulations of the representative Shipping Associations in the various ports?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe new Regulations are already in operation. They apply both to British vessels and foreign vessels within British jurisdiction. The new Regulations do not differ from, but are explanatory of, the British Regulations, which have been accepted by Foreign Powers. The Board of Trade have not considered it necessary to obtain the approval of the representative Shipping Associations in the various ports to an Order in Council, which, as I have already stated, is merely explanatory.
§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELLMay I ask if the Board of Trade are aware that the Regulations laid down and accepted by foreign vessels in 1880 provided that the lights must be so situated as not to stream across the line of the ship's keel, whether it now required that they should he so screened as to cross the keel?
§ MR. MUNDELLAOur Regulations are in accordance with the Warrant.
§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELLIn consequence of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I shall feel it my duty to call the attention of the House to this matter, because the action of the Board of Trade is, in the opinion of shipping authorities, distinctly wrong.