HC Deb 16 July 1896 vol 42 cc1636-7
MR. ALFRED THOMAS (Glamorgan, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any foreign vessel loading grain at a foreign port for a port in the United Kingdom is subject to any, and which, of the regulations for the carriage of grain contained in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894; whether such a foreign vessel is subject to any of the restrictions as to the quantity or weight of cargo carried which apply to British vessels: and whether foreign vessels discharging cargo (other than deckloads of timber) at British ports are free from all the restrictions imposed by British law upon British vessels?

*MR. RITCHIE

The provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act with regard to the stowage of grain cargoes, and with regard to the overloading or improper loading of ships bringing cargoes (other than deck loads of timber) to ports in this country, do not apply to foreign ships.

*MR. C. W. CAYZER

May I ask whether the Board of Trade make a report, or, if not, if they will make report of all the foreign ships arriving overladen or not laden in accordance with the regulations and restrictions applicable to British ships?

*MR. RITCHIE

said if the hon. Member would put the Question on the Paper he would take care to obtain the information if it could be obtained. For his part, he believed, as far as foreign ships outward were concerned, they were subject to due restrictions, but with regard to grain cargoes, the restrictions applying to our own ships did not apply to foreign ships. He did not regard the law as at all in a satisfactory condition, and would like to see it remedied. ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

wished to know if it was to be understood that as regards equipment and loading the Board of Trade officers inspected foreign ships outward bound, but not inward bound on arrival?

*MR. RITCHIE

said he did not want to go into details, but undoubtedly in regard to foreign ships outward bound, the law gave them the power of inspection and regulation which does not apply to the same ships when homeward bound.