§ 8. Mr. M'GHEEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Committee appointed to inquire into the subject of the load line, which was presided over by Sir Edward Reed, and which reported in 1885, recommended that it would only tend to failure to entrust the task of assigning compulsory load lines which we describe to any purely official administration, but stated that it should be entrusted to some body of a more representative character which should consist not only of officials but also of gentlemen who, as shipowners, naval architects, seamen, and perhaps underwriters, would bring to bear on work great knowledge and experience; and why he has ignored the recommendation, when setting up the Committee which he has recently appointed, in not selecting a representative seaman to a place on the Committee?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The Report and recommendations of the Load Line Committee of 1885, to which my hon. Friend refers, were carefully considered when the Act of 1890 was before Parliament, and, so far as was then thought expedient, were given effect to by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1890. The provisions of that Act, reproduced in the Consolidation Act of 1894, are still in force, and put certain statutory obligations on the Board of Trade. I may point out that the Committee which is now sitting is not an assigning body but an advisory body, and was not intended to be representative of particular interests. But, as I have already stated, every facility is being, and will be, given for representatives of seamen and others interested to place their views before the Committee.
Mr. CATHCART WASONMay I ask whether, in view of all the reports and statements which have been made in regard to this question, he would not consider the advisability of appointing a 9 Committee of this House to inquire into those statements?
§ Mr. BUXTONI do not know to what statements my hon. Friend refers. I can only say, in addition to the answer given, that the matter was very carefully considered by a very strong Committee.
Mr. CATHCART WASONThe statements I allude to were in connection with the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, when President of the Board of Trade, and the right hon. Gentleman's predecessor, and the right hon. Gentleman himself and his colleague beside him.
§ Mr. BUXTONThat is a different matter as to whether the load line of 1906, after six years, should not be examined into, in order to see how far it has been effective and how far deficient. The question we are dealing with is quite different from that which the hon. Member suggests.