§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether H.M.S. "Latona's" engines have been examined prior to her departure for Newfoundland; if they have been examined, what condition were the boiler tubes in; whether any of the tubes which should weigh 27 lbs. only weighed 15 lbs; and, if so, will the Admiralty put new boiler tubes into the "Latona" before sending her across the Atlantic.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The machinery of H.M.S. "Latona" was examined at the end of last year, and it was then reported that no defects were known to exist in the engines or boilers which would affect the seaworthiness of the ship. The boilers were examined and tested in January last, and the life of the tubes was then given as three years. A few of the tubes were drawn at the end of March, when the average loss of weight was found to be 27 per cent. and the maximum 32 per cent., not 44.4, as suggested in the third part of the Question. It is not, therefore, intended to put new boiler tubes in the ship before sending her across the Atlantic.