§ SIR CAMERON GULL (Devon, Barnstaple)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the evidence recently given at the Board of Trade Inquiry at Barnstaple into the wreck, accompanied with Joss of life, of the ketch "Joseph and Thomas," at Saunton, in April last, as to the want of telephonic communication between the look-out at Croyde and the coastguard station there, a distance of one mile; and also as to the absence of a direct through telephonic communication between Croyde and the other coastguard stations and West Appledore; and whether, having regard to the dangerous nature of that part of the coast, he will communicate with the proper authorities with a view of having these defects remedied at the earliest possible moment.
§ MR. RITCHIEYes, Sir, my attention has been called to the case to which my hon. friend refers, and I have been in communication with the Admiralty and Post Office on the subject. I am informed that the Post Office will take steps to provide telephonic communication between the look-out at Baggy Point and the Coastguard buildings at Croyde, and that they will also consider whether an arrangement can be made to enable the Coast-guard at Croyde to communicate direct with the Coastguard at Appledore.