§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has recently sanctioned the appointment of a ship captain as the representative of the Board of Trade to fill a vacancy upon the Local Marine Board at the port of Bristol; whether he is aware that this captain is in the service and employ of the Hill Line of steamship owners, and that the chairman of the said line of steamships is also chairman of the Bristol Local Marine Board; whether he can state what other applicants there were for the vacant position, and whether they were gentlemen independent of conflicting influences; and if he can state the reasons why a servant 324 of the chairman of the board was appointed?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADECaptain William Fitt, whom I have recently appointed to fill a vacancy upon the Bristol Local Marine Board, was for many years a ship master, and is now, I believe, marine superintendent of the Bristol City Line of steamers. There were three other candidates, all of whom were retired master mariners. I considered this to be no disqualification, and I appointed Captain Fitt because I thought he was the best man for the place.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONDoes this captain who has been appointed represent the Board of Trade?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The honourable Member cannot put such a question without notice.
§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSONI shall bring the matter up on the Estimates.