HC Deb 23 March 1897 vol 47 cc1185-7
SIR WILLIAM HOULDSWORTH (Manchester, N.W.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Select Committee to be appointed to inquire into the administration of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will be precluded by the terms of reference from receiving evidence in regard to the Lifeboat Saturday organisation for raising funds towards the maintenance of the Institution?

MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of extending the terms of reference to the Select Committee on the administration of the National Lifeboat Institution so as to include an inquiry into the management of the Lifeboat Saturday Organisation, which is now part of the National Lifeboat Institution, and has directly and indirectly increased its income to a great extent?

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

Perhaps the hon. Member for the Northern Division of Manchester will allow me to answer his Question at the same time as that of the hon. Member for the North West Division of Manchester. It will, of course, be for the Committee to decide what matters come within the reference. For myself I should say that the reference would include all questions connected with the administration of the funds of the Royal National Lifeboat institution; and, therefore, so far as the raising and expenditure of the Lifeboat Saturday organisation is associated with the administration of the Lifeboat Institution, it would seem to fall within the scope of the Inquiry.

SIR W. HOULDSWORTH

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Saturday organisation is considered in the quarters the most important part of the administration of the institution?

MR. RITCHIE

I did not understand that it was considered as the most important part of the Inquiry. So far as it bears on the work of the National Lifeboat Institution, it will be included in the Inquiry.

SIR R. U. PENROSE FITZGERALD (Cambridge)

Inasmuch as the institution are anxious for the fullest and most searching inquiry, is the right hon. Gentleman of opinion that the Committee may inquire into the Saturday fund movement?

MR. RITCHIE

I understand that it is certain that the collection of funds on Saturdays is connected with the administration of the institution, and, if that is the case, it will, of course, fall within the scope of the Inquiry.

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