§ MR. H. S. FOSTERI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the fact that, while those who rescue property at sea are entitled to salvage money, there if no legal right for the recovery of any money payment in respect of the saving of life, even though the rescuers incur actual money loss in their successful efforts, often at the greatest personal risk?
§ MR. BRYCESections 544 and 545 of the Merchant Shipping Act not only provide for the payment of salvage for saving life, but lay down that such salvage, when payable, shall have priority over all other claims for salvage. But in the case of claims against owners, it has been held that a claim for life salvage can only be sustained when some portion of the property has also been salved.
§ MR. FOSTERasked whether the Board of Trade, in the event of property being insufficient to cover expenses had not the power to pay such sums, as might in their discretion seem fit, out of the Mercantile Marine Fund?
§ MR. J. C. MACDONA (Southwark, Rotherhithe)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that a coroner's inquest was held a short time 1096 since on a body drawn out of the Thames at Rotherhithe, which when taken out was quite warm, and, whether the present arrangement under which payment was only made for the recovery of a dead body did not practically amount to prohibition upon attempts to save life?
§ MR. BRYCEThat seems to relate to a different matter, but I will answer a question if the hon. Member places one on the Paper.