§ 15. Major GLYNasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the accident at Dover Harbour to the mail steamer "Maid of Kent"; and whether lie is prepared to reconsider his decision on the subject of the block ships at the harbour entrance?
§ 38. Sir ROBERT GOWERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the effect on navigation of the block ships sunk during the War at the western entrance of Dover Harbour; and whether, in the interests of ships entering and leaving that port, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Burton Chadwick)I understand that the Dover Harbour Board, who are the authority directly responsible for navigation in Dover Harbour, are promoting a Bill which would give them power to close the western entrance to the harbour and remove the block ships.
§ Major GLYNHow is it that while I addressed this question to the Admiralty—on account of a previous answer from the First Lord to the effect that there was no danger to navigation in this case—I get a reply from the Board of Trade which does not meet my question at all?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI cannot go into that question. The Dover authorities are promoting a Bill to deal with this matter, and I imagine the Dover authorities will he very well informed as to the navigation problems involved.
§ Major GLYNMay I ask the representative of the Admiralty whether there is no danger in navigation, in view of the accident to the "Maid of Kent"?
Mr. DAVIDSONMy information is that if the ship in question had obeyed Admiralty instructions, there might have been a different result.
§ Major GLYNAs this is an important matter, may I ask that reconsideration be given to it, and that until this particular entrance to the harbour is closed, instructions should he given to ships to use the other entrance?
§ Mr. HARRISCannot the two Departments—the Board of Trade and the Admiralty—consult on this question?