HC Deb 09 May 1901 vol 93 cc1159-60
MR. WILLIAM REDMOND

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the number of ships lost from time to time through being improperly manned, the Board of Trade will make a rule that no sailing ship shall go to sea without at least three-fourths of her crew being proved able seamen.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)

No, Sir, I do not think such a rule would be reasonable. I may observe that, although courts of inquiry have from time to time expressed various opinions as to the adequacy or otherwise of the crews of vessels lost, the Board of Trade have no record of a case in which the court has found undermanning to be the actual cause of loss.

MR. JOYCE (Limerick)

Will the Board of Trade try in future to have a fair percentage of British seamen shipped in British ships?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! That does not arise out of the question.

MR. JOYCE

I will put down a question, then.