§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade why no Board of Trade inquiry has been held with respect to the collision in which the lives of 300 persons on board the mail steamer Munster were imperilled?
§ MR. BRYCEImmediately after the collision between the Munster and the River Avon the Board of Trade ordered an inquiry into the circumstances, but the investigation has been, in accordance with the invariable practice, postponed pending the result of an action commenced in the Admiralty Court, which is a Court of Appeal from the decision of a Court of Inquiry.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYMay I ask whether it is the practice of the Board of Trade, in case of railway collisions, to postpone Board of Trade inquiries; and, if not, why is it done in the case of collisions at sea?
§ MR. BRYCEIn the case of railway collisions we always hold the inquiries immediately afterwards; but in the case of collisions at sea the Admiralty Court constitutes a Court of Appeal from 213 the Court of Inquiry. Of course, if the Admiralty Court leave open any points upon which it may be necessary to have the finding of the Court of Inquiry, the proceeding before the latter will be resumed.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIn view of the great public interest evinced in the matter of this collision, I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will not at once order some inquiry which will satisfy the public mind?
§ MR. BRYCEIt has been the invariable practice for many years past to postpone these inquiries, pending the decision of the Admiralty Court upon their subject matter; the reason for this practice being, as I have indicated, that the Admiralty Court is in the nature of a Court of Appeal for Courts of Inquiry.