§ SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether the scheme with regard to boy sailors, introduced by him into the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act of last year, appears likely to prove a failure; and, if so, whether, having regard to the admitted importance of the subject, he intends to propose any modification of the scheme.
§ MR. RITCHIEAs the scheme to which the right hon. Baronet refers only 1543 came into operation on the 1st April, I think it would be premature to say definitely whether it is likely to prove a success or a failure. I am not prepared to propose any modification of it.