§ 15. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the judgment given on 15th July at Newcastle at the Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the steamship "Mount Oswald," which left Baltimore in February, 1912, with a crew of twenty-four and has not been heard of since; whether he is aware that the owners declined to allow the ship to undergo the necessary docking before leaving port; whether he is aware that the Court found that the ship was unseaworthy when the pilot left her before leaving Baltimore; and if he intends taking any action against the owners of the ship?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe Court which inquired into the loss of the steamship "Mount Oswald" found that the vessel ought to have been dry-docked at New York prior to crossing the North Atlantic in mid-winter, and that the vessel was not in good and seaworthy condition when the pilot left her off Cape Henry. The Court staled that, being unable to determine the actual cause of the loss of the vessel, it cannot attribute the disaster to any wrongful act or default on the part of the managers, but considers that they committed a grave error of judgment in not having the ship dry-docked at New York. The judgment of the Court will be printed and issued in the usual way. The facts of the case have been considered by my legal advisers, who advise that they are not such as to warrant the institution of proceedings against the owners.
§ Mr. THORNEIs there no means of getting at these ship owners for sending out these ships in the manner in which this ship was sent?
Mr. ROBERTSONIt is the finding of the Court that finishes the matter as far as we are concerned. We are unable to proceed in view of that finding.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not in the power of the Government to prosecute the ship owners?
§ Mr. J. WARDWill the Board bring in such a verdict itself as to make it necessary to institute proceedings?