MR. MILDMA (Devonshire, Totnes)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the recent operations in connection with the saving of the passengers and crew of the wrecked steamship "Jebba," the awards of the Board of Trade were apportioned in amounts of £15 10s. each for the ten coastguards whose good work in saving thirty-eight lives is recognised, while the rewards to the fishermen who saved 117 lives at the peril of their own amounted to £1 each, and in the case of Henry Hurrel to nothing; and whether, in view of the help rendered by these fishermen, some further recompense may be forthcoming.
I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that Isaac Jarvis and John Argent, in connection with the wreck of the s.s. "Jebba," descended a precipitous cliff at the risk of their lives and threw a line on board, and, having thus effected communication with the ship, hauled a number of passengers ashore in a boatswain's chair, whether he will consider the advisability 37 of awarding them recompense more nearly equal to that of the coastguards, who worked the rocket apparatus and received£15 10s., than the sum of £1 which the two men named received.
I beg further to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the services rendered by Mr. W. J. Day, His Majesty's Customs Officer at Salcombe, in the rescue work at the wreck of the steamship "Jebba;" and whether any reward has been or will be granted to him.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI propose to include in my reply the three Questions the hon. Member has on the paper with regard to the wreck of the "Jebba." Since the awards for services rendered at the wreck were announced, fresh information has reached the Board of Trade, and the matter is receiving careful reconsideration. I will inform the hon. Member of the result in the course of the next few days. I hope something may be done in the direction he wishes.