HC Deb 02 July 1914 vol 64 c553
59. Mr. GLADSTONE

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he would be able to take if the crews of British foreign-going ships, registered in the United Kingdom, which normally carry fifty or more persons, were to be reduced to forty-nine all told in order to escape the obligation of being equipped with wireless telegraphy under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Convention) Bill?

Mr. BURNS

This is a purely hypothetical question, and the only answer I can give my hon. Friend is that the action, if any, to be taken in such an eventuality would depend upon the circumstances of the case. I may add that precisely the same possibility might arise whatever were the limit of numbers fixed.