§ 43. Mr. STEWARTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Board of Trade inquiry at Liverpool into the foundering of the steamship "Hydro" covered a period extending from 8th April to 16th April last, and that the whole time occupied by the Court in conducting the inquiry amounted to less than twenty-four hours; and, if so, having regard to the public expenditure involved in protracted inquiries of this kind, he will take steps to insure that these Board of Trade inquiries will be dealt with by the Court for each full day and without adjournment from day to day with long intervals?
Mr. RUNCIMANIn the formal investigation into the loss of the "Hydro" the Court sat to hear the case from Thursday, 8th April, to Wednesday, 14th April inclusive, and the only weekday on which the Court did not sit was the Saturday. Judgment was given on Friday, 16th April. The hearing of Formal Investigations into Shipping Casualties at Liverpool has to be fitted in with the Stipendiary Magistrate's other duties, and the length and frequency of the sittings depend upon the time the magistrate can spare from ordinary Police Court work. The desirability of expedition in dealing with these investigations is, I can assure the hon. Member, fully appreciated.
§ Mr. STEWARTWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of giving some assistance to this Stipendiary seeing that his time is so fully occupied?
Mr. RUNCIMANIf the hon. Gentleman, is referring to assistance on the civil side of the work and not as regards the mercantile marine side he must address the question to the Home Office. I cannot answer it.