§ 64. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Government of 1905 made arrangements with the shipbuilding interests of other countries to raise the English load line; if he is aware that it was estimated at the time that the raising of the load line was equivalent to the adding of one million tons dead weight carrying capacity to the mercantile marine; if he is aware that by raising the load line it has been the means of saving the shipowners something like 7½ million pounds; and whether it is the intention of the Government to reduce the load line to what it was prior to 1906?
Mr. BUXTONThere is no foundation for the suggestion made in the first part of the question, and I have already informed my hon. Friend on 27th February, 1911, that the estimate of 1,000,000 tons is a great over-statement. I do not know the basis of my hon. Friend's estimate of £7,500,000. As my hon. Friend is aware, the load lines of British ships are fixed solely in reference to the question of safety and not to the possible effect on shipbuilding. As regards the last part of the question I would refer to the reply which I gave on Thursday last to the hon. Member for Glamorgan, South, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask whether it is not the fact that the consequence of the load line being raised moans that more tone could be carried and means preventing ships being built?
§ 68. Mr. JOWETTasked the President of the Board of Trade if, since his appointment to his present office, he has received any communications from associations, societies, or guilds of seafaring men, or from individuals who have experienced the dangers of a seafaring life, concerning the deeper loading of ships and additional I cargoes made possible by the altered load- 1879 line Regulations issued in 1906; and, if so, whether he will publish these communications for the information of Members?
Mr. BUXTONI am afraid I cannot add anything to the reply which I gave on 28th November to a similar question by my hon. Friend and a question by the hon. Member for South Glamorgan.
§ Mr. JOWETTWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to the question whether he will supply the information, or not?
Mr. BUXTONI answered two questions together on Thursday, when perhaps the hon. Member was not here. I intend to refer all these communications to a Committee which I propose to set up in regard to this matter.
§ Mr. JOWETTThe right hon. Gentleman did not reply to my question; I have repeated it, but I have not had a reply today.
Mr. BUXTONPerhaps my hon. Friend will refer to the reply which I gave on Thursday. Possibly he was not here—
§ Mr. JOWETTI was.
Mr. BUXTONI answered the question by saying that I proposed to refer all these communications to this Committee.
§ Mr. W. THORNEHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the "Seafarer" for last week, which publishes a very damaging statement against the Board of Trade in regard to the raising of the load line?
§ Mr. W. THORNEI will.