HC Deb 04 March 1897 vol 46 cc1577-8
MR. J. L. CAREW (Dublin, College Green)

On behalf of the hon. Member for Dublin, St. Patrick (Mr. W. FIELD), I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state up to what date the Board of Trade surveyors were employed in the supervision of repairs to the hulls, masts, and riggings of lightships under the jurisdiction of the Irish Commissioners; whether he can state why their services were dispensed with; and whether he can state under whose supervision the work is now carried out, and what was their practical experience of modern and composite shipbuilding at the time of their appointment?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon

Up to 1890, the Board of Trade surveyors were, on the application of the Commissioner's of Irish Lights, from time to time employed in the supervision of repairs to lightships under the jurisdiction of the Commissioners. Since that date no further applications for the services of these surveyors have been made to the Board of Trade by the Commissioners, who, in 1890, informed the Board that they considered that their lately appointed foreman ship- wright was in every way able to take full charge of the work under the Inspector of Lights. I have no information as to what had been the practical experience of those officers as to modern and composite shipbuilding, but evidence on this head can no doubt be elicited at the official Inquiry which I have ordered to be held into the loss of the lightship Puffin.

MR. CAREW

On behalf of the hon. Member for Dublin, St. Patrick (Mr. FIELD), I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the Irish lightships are not supplied with boats fitted with air tanks such as merchant vessels are compelled to carry, the Board of Trade will cause the Irish Lights Board to supply equally seaworthy boats to their lightships as are common to merchant vessels?

MR. RITCHIE

The question whether Irish lightships are properly equipped with boats and other life-saving appliances is one that will no doubt be fully gone into at the official Inquiry which I have ordered to be held into the loss of the lightship Puffin. When the report of that Inquiry has been received, the Board of Trade will be prepared to consider with the Commissioners of Irish Lights any recommendation which the Court may make on this subject.

MR. CAREW

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Inquiry will be held, and when?

MR. RITCHIE

The Inquiry was ordered to be held some time ago, and a great many arrangements had to be made with regard to the witnesses, so that it is not possible to say when the Inquiry will be commenced.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Will the right hon. Gentleman say where it will be held, and whether he does not think it desirable to hold it in Queenstown, where most of the witnesses live?

MR. RITCHIE

I answered the question as to where it would be held some time ago. It strikes me that it was at Cork, but I cannot say.