§ 6. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is able to make any statement as to the Government's attitude to the proposal to change the form and terms of the helm orders on board ship by international agreement; and what steps have been taken, or will be taken, to ascertain the views of British mariners generally as to the desirability and form of the changes proposed?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERHelm orders on British ships are governed by custom, not by law or regulation, and the Board of Trade would not intervene 1137 unless the custom were causing danger or unless there were a general desire to consider the advisability of a change and the Board were invited to assist in the process. In that event, the Board would give all the help in their power, but they would make three suggestions, first, that any proposed alteration should be fully considered by masters, navigating officers and pilots before a decision is reached; second, that if the British system is changed, it should be to some system which will be international; third, that special care be taken to prevent danger during the change over.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman any evidence to show that either confusion or danger is caused by the present long-established and well-understood British helm orders?
Sir P. CUNLFFE-LISTERNo, Sir, absolutely none, and that is why I should hesitate so much to give any support to any change which might be suggested.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill this House be consulted before any change is made and before we ratify any change?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have no intention, as I said in the answer, of advising any change. I should not like to answer off-hand whether, if a convention should ultimately be negotiated, it would necessarily be subject to the prior aproval of Parliament or not. It seems to me quite academic.
§ Mr. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake, before any steps are taken, and in the view of the possibility of any change, to get to know the opinion of King Neptune as to the desecration of the last remnants of the romance of the sea?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI hope that neither the questions nor the answers will suggest that any change is being contemplated, but, before I contemplate any change in any matter of that kind, I should take the very best expert advice that I possibly could.
§ Commander BELLAIRSCan my right hon. Friend say whether the Board, in conjunction with the Board of Admiralty, have had any preliminary investigation, 1138 especially in regard to American experience in this matter?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes. I should not like without notice to say exactly what consideration has been given to it, but certainly we have no representation which leads us to suppose that any change is contemplated.
§ Lord APSLEYIs my right hon. Friend aware that in America there are two systems now in vogue—the Admiralty have one system, and the Mercantile Marine have another—and can such a change possibly be made in the customs of this country without Parliamentary sanction.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not sure about that matter. I think that very likely Parliamentary sanction would be advisable, but I do want, again, to assert that the fact that these questions appear on the Order Paper should not be taken by anybody to suggest that a change is contemplated or is desirable.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTECan my right hon. Friend say whether there is any reason why we should copy America in Naval matters?