HC Deb 25 January 1897 vol 45 cc405-6
MR. MAURICE HEALY

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade will direct an inquiry into the circumstances connected with the loss of the Daunt's Rock lightship Puffin; what the age of this vessel was, and how long used as a lightship; whether the Puffin was as strongly constructed at the bows as modern lightships usually are; and whether it was the case that, when returning from Kingstown, the bows of the Puffin opened merely from old age?

MR. RITCHIE

An inquiry has been ordered as to the loss of the lightship Puffin. It is probable that that inquiry will have to be adjourned until the lightship can be raised. The necessary expenditure for this undertaking has been sanctioned, but the attempt will not be made in the present weather. The Puffin was built in 1887, and has been used as a lightship since that date. As no doubt the circumstances referred to in the two last paragraphs of the Question will be investigated at the inquiry, I must defer answering them until the report has been received.

MR. MAURICE HEALY

, thanking the right hon. Gentleman for having ordered an inquiry, asked, was it intended that the inquiry should be adjourned as a matter of course until the ship was raised, or whether it would be in the discretion of the gentleman presiding at the inquiry to proceed to take such evidence as would be available in reference to the condition of the vessel before the raising of the vessel?

MR. RITCHIE

did not think there would be any advantage in going into evidence until the ship was raised. Clearly the chief evidence would be the condition of the ship and crew; if meantime other evidence were proceeded with, it would probably have to be gone over again. Under any circumstances there could not be a report until the ship was raised, and he saw no valid reason for going on with the inquiry until the evidence could be completed.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can say what provision has been made for the parents, widows, and children respectively of the men lost by the foundering of the lightship Puffin, and, whether this provision will accrue from the date of the disaster?

MR. RITCHIE

I am afraid that I can only repeat to the hon. and gallant Member the reply that was given to him by my right hon. Friend on my behalf on the 21st instant, namely, that the Board are making inquiries as to the amount of pensions and gratuities which should be granted to the families of the men lost by the foundering of the lightship Puffin. As soon as a decision is arrived at, I shall be happy to communicate it to the hon. and gallant Member.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

asked whether, seeing that this disaster dated so far back as October last, and the delay was serious to those concerned, the right hon. Gentleman would use his influence for an early settlement?

MR. RITCHIE

said he was urging forward the matter so far as he could. He had made a representation in that direction that day.