§ 56. Mr. SANDYSasked the President of the Board of Trade in how many cases during the past five years have proceedings been taken by the Board of Trade in respect to offences arising out of nuisance and overcrowding on board ship so far as officers and crews are concerned?
§ Mr. BURNSI presume the hon. Member's question refers to the matter of crew spaces. It has not been necessary to institute any prosecutions during the past five years for non-compliance with the regulations as to crew spaces, as any irregularities can be dealt with by the power of adding the tonnage of the space to the registered tonnage of the vessel, and this power has been found to meet the case sufficiently.
§ 57. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of referring matters concerning the accommodation and comfort of officers and crews and the general subject of hygiene on board ship to the next international maritime conference?
§ Mr. BURNSThe next Conference will deal with load-line and timber deck loads, and its work will be sufficiently heavy without the addition of the important subjects to which the hon. Member draws attention.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the precedent of the last International Conference, which considered many more than two subjects, and consider the advisability of spreading his net more widely?
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEWhat is the object of calling this International Conference if you cannot consider all these points?
Sir GILBERT PARKERIs it the case that this Government have the power of deciding what questions should be discussed at the International Conference?
§ Mr. BURNSNo single Government has got the absolute power of determining 553 what shall be discussed at an International Convention, but it has power to make representations generally.
Sir G. PARKERWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the representation which my hon. Friend has made, because it is extremely important?