§ 62. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the circumstances of the sinking on 30th October last, in the North Sea, after collision of the steamship "Kinneil," of Bo'ness, have been brought to his notice; whether, at the time, she was carrying a deck cargo of 18 feet in height; whether, owing to the imminent dangers of this deck cargo after the collision, the crew were put in a position of peril and could do nothing in attempting to save their vessel from sinking; and whether the Board have held a formal investigation into this casualty or intend to hold one?
§ Mr. BURNSThe collision case to which the hon. Member refers was dealt with by the Admiralty Court, and it is not proposed to order a formal investigation. My information is that the deck-load did not exceed 15 ft. in height. If the hon. Member has any evidence to show that the height of the deck cargo added to the danger of the crew in this particular case, or hastened the sinking of the vessel, I shall be glad to consider it if he will forward it to me.