Mr. JAMES PAKER (for Mr. William Thorne)asked whether, in consequence of the Board of Trade raising the load-line of ships in the interest of shipowners, at least 1,000,000 tons weight has been added to the carrying capacity of the British mercantile marine fleet, and that this increased carrying capacity has been the means of depriving some thousands of men of employment in consequence of shipowners not being compelled to build more ships through the load-line being raised; and if he intends taking action in the matter?
Mr. BUXTONThe load-lines of British ships are, as my hon. Friend is aware, fixed solely in reference to the question of safety, and not to the possible effect on ship-building. It would be difficult to give a reliable estimate of the increase in the carrying capacity of existing British ships which resulted from the revision of the load-line tables in 1906, but the increase is certainly greatly overstated in the question. Any temporary disturbance that may have been caused to shipbuilding by the change made five years ago must, however, have long since ceased to operate.