§ Mr. JOSEPH KINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had received any resolutions from a meeting representative of the ports and coasts of the Bristol Channel held at Bristol last Wednesday, at which the question of watching the coast in the interest of the mercantile marine was discussed; whether the subject, on which the safety of so many seamen, passengers, and shipping depends, would be dealt with by legislation this Session; and, failing which, whether it was intended to appoint any committee or other body to inquire into the subject?
Mr. BUXTONI have received copies of the resolutions to which my hon. Friend refers. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Board of Trade are fully alive to the importance of the subject, and are taking steps by local investigation by their officers to ascertain whether the existing arrangements require strengthening in 339 any way. As the recent loss of a steamer in Barnstaple Bay will be the subject of an inquiry to be held shortly, my hon. Friend will understand that it is not desirable for me to make any statement in relation thereto at the present time. I may add, as my own opinion, that the wider use of wireless telegraphy in the mercantile marine would materially assist in producing the result we all desire.