MR. BURNTE (Swansea Town)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to trace whether harbours of refuge at dangerous points of the coasts of the United Kingdom would, if they had existed, have been likely to have minimised the fearful loss of life and property that, has recently taken place, and especially at what parts of the coast they would have been of service during the recent gales?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo, Sir; I do not think that advantage would result from such an inquiry as is suggested by my hon. Friend. In the first place, it is impossible to say of any locality that the existence of a harbour of refuge would have prevented any given number of casualties. Some of the saddest casualties during the recent gale have occurred near harbours of refuge. In the second place, the institution of such an inquiry would encourage the idea that it is the duty of Governments to erect harbours of refuge at the public expense, and successive Governments have repeatedly discouraged this idea.
§ MR. BURNIEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Royal Commission and a Select Committee have both recommended the construction of harbours of refuge?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI do not know to what recommendation the hon. Member refers, but I shall be glad to receive his reference to the matter. I may say that during the recent gales there were seven wrecks in harbours of refuge, arising from vessels losing their anchors and being literally dashed against each other, or against the harbour walls. It is a fact that during the recent gales where there has been most sea room there has been least danger.
§ MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman that harbours of refuge are a positive danger?
§ MR. MUNDELLAMy hon. Friend will understand nothing of the sort. What I have said is that the Government are not prepared to endorse the idea that it is their duty to erect harbours of refuge.