§ SIR BARRINGTON SIMEON (Southampton)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Report recently made to the Board of Trade by their nautical surveyors is strongly in favour of a new form of life-saving dress for mariners, known as "Bickley's Patent Buoyant Clothing;" and, if this be so, whether he will direct copies of that Report to be circulated among hon. Member's?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Board of Trade are advised that the invention referred to by the hon. Member does not comply with the statutory Rules affecting life-saving appliances for use at sea, inasmuch as it involves the principle of inflation, a principle which it is not thought advisable to admit, especially in the case of so unreliable a material as rubber. Under these circumstances, I do not think any useful purpose would be served by the circulation of a Report signed by one officer of the Department admitting the merits of the invention, which are not questioned.