§ 5. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the recent prosecution before the Liverpool stipendiary magistrate of Captain John Owen Evans, master of the steamer "Tredenham," who was fined for not keeping a continuous wireless watch, having temporarily withdrawn from this duty apprentices carried on board the steamer, and who pleaded that these apprentices were so withdrawn for pur- 1143 poses of instruction in the general work of the ship; and whether, in view of the undesirability of midshipmen, cadets, or apprentices being compelled on board ship to take regular duty as wireless watchers when the obligation of their employers is to ensure that they are instructed in navigation and seamanship and in the duties and responsibilities appertaining to the positions of officers in the mercantile marine, in view of the indignation aroused amongst navigating officers and apprentices in the mercantile marine at the duties of wireless watchers being imposed upon them, and having regard to the fact that these duties are not part of their recognised duties on board ship, he will take steps with a view to stopping this practice?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am aware of the proceedings referred to. The allocation of duties among the ship's crew is a matter for the owners and master of the ship, and so long as the statutory requirements are complied with, the Board of Trade have no power to Intervene.
§ Viscount CURZONHow in the world are these apprentices going to get their proper training if they are kept on constant wireless watches?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThey are not kept on wireless watches the whole time.
§ Mr. PETOIs there any prospect of automatic registration being brought into use for these wireless messages, so as to obviate the necessity for this watching?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat, I think, is the subject of another question.