§ 27. Mr. CHADWICKasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the confirmation he has now received from the British Minister at Athens, namely, that all Greek passenger steamers over 300 tons are required to carry wireless telegraph equipment, and, having regard to the grave effect that this information would have had on the 1892 Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Bill and to the great importance of Great Britain not being behind Greece or any other country in an important life-saving matter of this kind, he will say what steps can be taken to bring within the scope of the Act all British passenger ships over 300 tons?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary has, I understand, informed him that the Greek law applies to steamers over 300 tons which carry fifty persons or more and not to all passenger steamers over that tonnage. The Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act applies to all seagoing passenger steamers whatever their tonnage and the Merchant Shipping (Convention) Act applies to all steamers carrying fifty persons or more, irrespective of tonnage. The British law regarding the fitting of wireless telegraph apparatus on passenger steamers appears, therefore, to be of considerably wider application than the Greek law.