§ 42. Mr. DOUGLAS HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that he does not intend to refer the question of a light load line to the Committee which he is setting up to advise him as to the instructions to be given to the British delegates to the international Load Line Conference, the British delegates at that conference will be free to consider or to bind this country in respect of any proposal that is brought forward for a light load line?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe object of the International Conference is to endeavour 1473 to arrive at an international agreement on the very difficult and technical subject of the rules and regulations for determining freeboard. I doubt if such a question as the institution of a light load line would properly come within the scope of the conference, and in any case the British delegates will not be empowered by their instructions to bind His Majesty's Government on such a subject.
§ Mr. DOUGLAS HALLWill the delegates be allowed to discuss the matter?
Mr. ROBERTSONI am not sure that we can limit the subjects discussed. The delegates have no binding powers.