§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, since the recent wreck of the ss. Memphis on the Mizen Head, the question has been revived of establishing a fog signal on the Three Castles' Head; whether the Irish Light Commissioners have stated that such a fog signal would encourage vessels into danger; whether he is aware that the Liverpool Underwriters' Association and the Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association, numbering among its members all the large liners trading between Liverpool and America, and carrying a very great number of emigrants and other passengers, are very strongly of opinion that the establishment of such a fog signal would be of very material assistance in the safe navigation of those waters, especially in regard to vessels which in thick weather have got out of their course, and whether he can arrange that this strong request of those who at present contribute so largely to the cost of fog signal stations shall be carried into effect?
§ MR. RITCHIERepresentations have lately been made as to the desirability of establishing a fog signal on the Three Castles' Head, and I am informed that the Commissioners of Irish Lights have stated, in reply to such representations, that, in their opinion, the effect of such a fog signal would be to encourage vessels into danger. The Board of Trade have no statutory power to take the initiative in establishing fog signal stations.