§ Mr. JOYCEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Bristol Corporation, acting as the pilotage authority for the port of Bristol, has committed a breach of Section 599 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, by endorsing the pilotage certificate held by the master of the passenger steamer "Barry," for the purpose of authorising him to pilot the said steamer after a change in her ownership without examining the said master as required by the said Section; and whether, if so, he will communicate with the pilotage authority and point out that if a ship changes owners a pilotage certificate held by the master becomes invalid and that the master must be examined again before he can be authorised to pilot the said ship?
Mr. KINGalso asked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the action of the Bristol pilotage committee, which has recently endorsed the pilotage certificates of three masters of the steamships "Devonia," "Barry," and "Westonia," when these vessels changed owners, without re-examining these masters; and whether, in view of Section 599 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, he will say what action the Board of Trade is taking in this matter?
Mr. BUXTONI will answer these questions together. My attention has been called to these cases, and I am making inquiries with respect to the circumstances in which the certificates were endorsed.
§ Mr. JOYCEAll we ask is that the law should be carried out in these cases as in other similar cases.