§ MR. J. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is his intention to direct the institution of criminal proceedings against the owners of the sailing ship Port Yarrock, which was wrecked in Brandon Bay, on the coast of Ireland, during the month of January, 1894, whereby the whole of her crew, numbering 21 hands, were drowned; and it was afterwards found by a court of inquiry that the managing owner, Robert John Rowat, was gravely to blame in respect of the undermanning of the vessel when she commenced her voyage, and neglecting to make clear to the master that his first duty was to take the ship from Brandon Bay to a place of safety.
§ MR. BRYCEThe Court of Inquiry into the loss of the Port Yarrock found the managing owner, Mr. Robert John Rowat, to blame for allowing the vessel to go to sea short handed, and for not sending immediate instructions to the master to remove the vessel to a place of safety from Brandon Bay. Upon the receipt of the report of the Court, the Board of Trade at once submitted the case to Crown Counsel in Scotland with a view to prosecution. The matter was most carefully investigated and considered, but the Scottish Law Officers advised that the evidence was not such as to warrant the institution of criminal proceedings.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONasked whether the right hon. gentleman was aware that letters had been submitted to the Board of Trade in connection with a previous ship where 21 lives were lost.
§ MR. BRYCEsaid what had happened with regard to another ship could not influence the opinion of the law officers in this case.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONasked whether the right hon. gentleman was aware that this owner had settled five claims already of relatives who sued for compensation.
This question was not answered.