§ SIR CAMERON GULLI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the following recommendations of the Court of Inquiry upon the wreck of the "Mohegan":—(1) That they were strongly of opinion that when a vessel was lighted with electric light she ought at night to have lighted and in an easily accessible position oil lamps to take the 719 place of the ship's lamps in case of failure of the electric light. (2) That they were also strongly of opinion that a lifeboat should be swung out on each side of a passenger vessel while navigating the English Channel. And, if so, whether he has taken or proposes to take any and what steps in the direction indicated by the Court of Inquiry.
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonYes, sir. My attention has been called to the recommendations referred to in the question, and they have received attentive consideration. The regulations of the Board of Trade require vessels fitted with electric side and masthead lights to be also supplied with oil lamps for use in case of failure of the electric system. These regulations were fully complied with in the case of the "Mohegan," but the oil lamps (which were trimmed and ready for use) were submerged and rendered inaccessible soon after the vessel struck; and if they had been lighted they would have been extinguished. The statutory rules as to life saving appliances do not require a lifeboat to be swung out on each side of a passenger vessel while navigating the English Channel, and the Board of Trade are advised that under certain conditions such a requirement would be neither prudent nor practicable.