§ MR. CLANCYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the circumstances under which a man named Henry Williams lost his life off Wicklow Head on the 31st August, 1901, while acting as a seaman on board the steamship "Ierne," then engaged in the service of the Irish Lights Board; whether he is aware that three eye-witnesses of his death made statements on oath, the purport of which was to show that neglect and unskilfulness were manifested in the management of the ship on the occasion referred to, and to this cause the death of Williams was to be attributed; and, seeing that, although those depositions were placed before the Board of Trade, the Board has refused the request of the father of the drowned man that a sworn 725 inquiry should be held into the circumstances under which the fatality occurred, whether he will state on what grounds the Board so refused, and whether it will now reconsider its decision, and order an inquiry.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe unfortunate accident to which the hon. Member refers happened not on the 31st August, but on the 31st May last. The circumstances were carefully considered at the time, and the Beard of Trade were advised that they could not order a formal investigation. As I informed the hon. Member for North Louth last July, the Board of Trade sanctioned the payment by the Irish Lights Board of a gratuity of £50 to Williams's parents.
§ MR. CLANCYOn what ground did Board of Trade refuse the inquiry?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWe were advised we had no power to order one.