§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any complaints as to the way in which the president of the court conducted the inquiry into the loss of the "Primrose Hill," and as to his behaviour towards the solicitor who appeared On behalf of the parents of some of the drowned apprentices, and who at the conclusion of the case made a protest; and whether he can take any steps towards ensuring that those who have a right to be represented shall have the means of eliciting the essential facts of the circumstances attending a loss such as that of the vessel referred to.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE, Croydon)Yes, Sir; and the hon. Member himself asked me a question on the subject on the 14th of this month. I have nothing to add to my answer then† except that I have no power to take any such steps as those suggested.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the serious nature of this case, in which the representatives of the relatives of the deceased men were refused permission to address the court, the Board of Trade will seriously consider the advisability of securing the fullest representation in all cases of this kind?
§ *MR. RITCHIEI am not the President of the Board of Trade, and if I were I should not have the power to do as the hon. Gentleman suggests. Any person may have a right to be present, but there is a technical point—namely, that a solicitor representing parties has no right to address the court unless with the leave of the judge.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he considers that a desirable state of affairs?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI will call attention to the matter on the Vote for the right hon. Gentleman's salary.
† See page 419.