§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the Board of Trade inquiry at Liverpool on the 3rd, 6th, and 11th April last, into the loss of the sailing ship "Primrose Hill," when the evidence proved that this vessel was unseaworthy in consequence of being inefficiently manned; whether his attention has been drawn to that part of the evidence which proved that thirteen men were engaged as able seamen, not one of whom was able to satisfy the deputy superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office, in whose presence the crew was signed on, that they were able seamen in accordance with the 126th section of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894; whether the Board of Trade will issue orders to superintendents 753 and deputy superintendents of Mercantile Marine Offices not to accept for entry on any ships articles of agreement as able seamen any person who is unable to produce a record of four years service at sea in accordance with the section of the Act of Parliament; whether, seeing that thirty-four lives were lost in the "Primrose Hill" in consequence of her not being efficiently manned, and thereby being unseaworthy, the Board of Trade intend to prosecute. Mr. William Price, the managing owner of this vessel; and whether he can state if the owner has paid any compensation to the relatives of the men who lost their lives in this vessel.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURMy attention has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers. I am not prepared to discuss the effect of the evidence, and although the court of inquiry expressed the opinion that the crew of the vessel was not adequate, it also found that there was no evidence to satisfy it that the loss of the vessel was due to such inadequacy. I am informed that the crew, both in number and effective rating, did not fall short of the general practice in similar ships, and that the manning of the vessel was not such as to render it unseaworthy. The court found that none of the A.B.'s proved their claim to be so rated; but rating is a question for the master. All that superintendents can do in the matter was done in this case, namely, to put the letters N.P. (not proved) after each man's name, in accordance with the Board of Trade instructions. I am advised that there are no grounds for a prosecution under the Merchant Shipping Act in this case. In reply to the last paragraph of the question I am informed by the owners of the "Primrose Hill" that they have not paid any compensation to the relatives of the men lost, and would resist any claim of the kind if made.
§ MR. JOYCEArising out of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, am I to infer that the lives of seamen are of such little moment—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is an argumentative question.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDArising out of the right hon. Gentleman's answer, may I ask whether it would be possible for the Board of Trade in future to take such steps as will render it impossible for ships to go to sea without having on board an adequate number of men who have proved that they are A.B. seamen.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThat depends upon what is meant by adequate. I think there would be considerable difficulty in showing in every case whether a crew consisted of a certain number of A.B. seamen.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask if the right, hon. Gentleman is in a position to say that a proper proportion of the crew of the "Primrose Hill" had proved to the satisfaction of the Board of Trade that they were A.B. seamen.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am not aware of any rule on the subject, but the twelve men who were on board this vessel were not proved to be A.B. seamen.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask whether, in view of the fact that on board this ship there was not a single man who had proved himself to be an A.B. seaman, the Board of Trade will take steps to render it impossible for a ship to go to sea without a certain number of men who have proved that they are A.B. seamen.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI very much doubt if it is possible for me to give such an undertaking.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDThen I beg to give notice that in consequence of the unsatisfactory condition of this matter, I will at the earliest possible opportunity call attention to the practice of sending ships to sea without being properly manned by A.B. seamen.