§ 68. Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply a sworn list of the vessels built and launched prior to 1900, with their respective tonnage, upon which the load-line was raised during 1906, and since that year by the secret fiat of the Board of Trade; the names and tonnage of such vessels upon which the load-line was so raised which foundered or were stranded after this was done; the names of the survivors so far as they may be known to the Board of Trade; copies of the remonstrances in regard to the raising of the load-line on old vessels which were addressed to various Members of the Cabinet, including the then President of the Board of Trade, at the time when the load-line was raised on these old vessels and afterwards; the actual amount that it would have cost to have given the statistics in regard to the foundering and stranding of overladen vessels asked for by Lord Muskerry, the furnishing of which was refused by the Board of Trade on the score of expense; and whether any action whatever has been taken by the Government or by any of the shipowners who have benefited so largely pecuniarily by the raising of the load-line to provide pensions or reasonable compensation to the widows of the seamen, firemen, and others who have been drowned on board the "North Briton," whose foundering was directly attributed by a magistrate in his official judgment to the action of the Board of Trade and the Government?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)As I have stated in this House, I have already appointed a special Committee to investigate the whole question of the load line. All the information required by this Committee, statistical or otherwise, for the purpose of their inquiry, will, of course, be furnished to them by the Board of Trade to the best of their power, and every assistance will be given to them in their investigation. All representations made to me have been referred to the Committee, as has also been the case of the "North Briton." In these circumstances, I do not see that any useful purpose would be served by supplying the particular information asked for. As regards the last part of the question, I am not aware what action, if any, may have been taken by shipowners. No action has been taken by the Government.
§ Mr. W. THORNEHow long will it be before we have the official papers?
§ Mr. BUXTONI cannot say, but I am using my best endeavours to examine into the whole question. I hope it will not be very long.