§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the reports in The Liverpool Daily Post of the 19th and 21st instant of an inquest upon the bodies of two boys who were recently drowned whilst bathing on the shore at Crosby, near Liverpool, and to the evidence given thereat, which disclosed the fact that the local Coastguard station was wholly un-provided with any life-saving apparatus, and also clearly showed that both lives would have been saved had the Coastguard men, who were present on the beach at the time and who endeavoured to save the lads, been able to swim, or been provided with a boat capable of being promptly launched; and whether, with a view to increasing the usefulness of the Coastguard service at Crosby and elsewhere, he will consider the advisability of giving effect to the presentments of the jury in the case, that the men in the Coastguard service should be expert swimmers, and should be supplied with proper apparatus for saving life and with boats that can be speedily run out to sea?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe reports referred to have been seen at the Admiralty, and the loss of the two boys' lives is much to be regretted. An inquiry into the conduct of the Coast- 755 guard men at Waterloo, near Liverpool, has been ordered by the district captain. That Coastguard station is provided with life-belts, and all the crew are believed to be swimmers. All Coastguard stations are provided with more or less means for saving life. Whether their boats can be speedily run out to sea must often depend on local circumstances.