§ 14. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory type of compass carried in ships' lifeboats; whether any instructions relating to boats' compasses are issued by his Department; and, having regard to the fact that the crew of the"Trevessa"found these compasses in both lifeboats useless, he will now consider the advisability of issuing instructions regarding suitable equipment for ships' lifeboats both as to its care and use?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI have no reason to think that the type of compass carried in ships' lifeboats is unsatisfactory, and am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Board of Trade instructions on the subject. The statement as to the compasses of the"Trevessa's"boats will be investigated at the Board of Trade Inquiry. It is the duty of the Board's surveyors, when inspecting a ship's lifeboats, to inspect 200 their equipment also. When an inspection was last made of all the life-saving appliances of the"Trevessa"they were found to be in accordance with the Board of Trade instructions.