§ 68. Mr. WILKIEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the finding of the Court of Inquiry held into the wreck of the steamer "Hughenden," with the loss of twenty-five lives, and to the fact that the Court found that the ship was not properly loaded when she left Smyrna; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a repetition of such improper loading?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe attention of my right hon. Friend has been called to the opinion of the inspector who held an inquiry into the loss of, the steamship "Hughenden" to the effect that this vessel was not loaded in accordance with the Board of Trade Regulations for the carriage of grain cargoes, and the matter is receiving the consideration of the officers, of the Board of Trade. As regards the steps taken to prevent the improper loading of grain cargoes, I may point out to my 695 hon. Friend that Section 453 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, places the responsibility for seeing that the loading is in accordance with the law on the owner, master, and any agent of the owners charged with the loading of the ship or sending her to sea, and British and foreign ships laden with grain cargoes are inspected by Board of Trade surveyors on their arrival in this country, and in cases in which it is considered necessary proceedings are instituted against the persons responsible for any contravention of the law.
§ Mr. WILKIEDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that the Board of Trade should issue Regulations in regard to the proper loading of these ships?