§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that neither the first nor second mate of Mr. David M'Brayne's thirty-five-year-old paddle steamer "Lovedale" possesses the qualifying navigation certificate; and, seeing that the vessel now carries the mails between Stornoway, Kyle, and Mallaig, and that recently, during the illness of the master, she had to be navigated from Stornoway to Kyle by a visitor who happened to possess a master's certificate, will he take such steps as may be necessary to secure the employment of fully qualified officers on this steamer.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF the BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe declaration of the Board of Trade Surveyors, made in November last, shows that the master, mate, and engineer of the vessel to which the hon. Member refers hold certificates of competency, as required by Section 92 of the Merchant Shipping Act. If, in the absence of the regular master, another 562 duly certificated master took charge of the vessel, that would not be contrary either to the Act or to any regulation of the Board of Trade.
§ MR. WEIRIs it the fact that the first and second masters were incompetent to navigate the vessel?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThey are not bound to hold a master's certificate.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI had better have notice of any further Questions.