§ MR. HAVELOCK WILSON (Middlesbrough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the inquiry held into the loss of the Newcastle steamship "Cardinal" in the North Atlantic on 12th February, whilst on a voyage from 785 Pensacola to Antwerp; whether he is aware that the Court found that the height of the deck cargo of timber was six to seven feet in the well of the vessel and about four feet on the awning-deck, and three and a half to five feet on the after-deck; whether he is aware the Court found that the vessel, as loaded, was not in a good and seaworthy condition when she left Pensacola on her winter voyage across the Atlantic; whether he is aware that the Merchant Shipping Act prohibits the carrying of such deck cargoes during winter to ports in the United Kingdom, but does not prohibit the carrying of such deck cargoes to Continental ports; whether he intends to introduce legislation at an early date to prohibit British vessels carrying excessive deck-loads of timber to Continental ports during the winter months; what proceedings, if any, docs he intend to take against the owners of the "Cardinal" for allowing this vessel to proceed to sea in an unseaworthy condition; and, whether he is aware the owner, Mr. Avory, declined to disclose to the Court the amount of insurance effected on this vessel?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEYes, Sir, my attention has been called to the case referred to in the Question, the circumstances of which are substantially as stated by the honourable Member. The Report of the Court of Inquiry is now under my consideration with a view to proceedings being taken, should the evidence justify them.