S.S. "JERVIS BAY." (Hansard, 25 June 1928)

§ 37. Captain GARRO-JONES
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can throw light on recent happenings on board the liner "Jervis Bay"; and how it happened that eight stowaways, among 15 officers, a crew of 174, and 600 passengers, were able to threaten, if not to interrupt, the captain's control of the vessel?

Mr. WILLIAMS
The Board of Trade cabled to the collector of customs at Colombo on Friday last asking him to make inquiries into this matter as soon as the "Jervis Bay" arrived, and to reply by telegraph.

§ Captain GARRO-JONES
Can the hon. Gentleman say what will be the scope of the inquiry? For example, will it cover the question of why it was necessary to have passengers to guard these stowaways?

Mr. WILLIAMS
That is entirely a matter within the discretion of the man on the spot.

§ Captain GARRO-JONES
Whatever the discretion of the man on the spot, will not the Board of Trade make the scope of the inquiry so large as to secure an answer to those questions which are agitating the public mind?

Mr. WILLIAMS
My answer was that we are making inquiries; it was not a promise to hold an inquiry.

§ 53. Captain GARRO-JONES
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty at what time His Majesty's Ship "Enterprise" received the first message from the liner "Jervis Bay"; what action was taken to deal with this threat to the captain's control of the liner; and what steps are contemplated to deal with the matter now?

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lieut.-Colonel Headlam)
His Majesty's Ship "Enterprise" received the first message from the "Jervis Bay" at 9.30 a.m. on the 20th June—Indian time. A Marine guard was dispatched in the Admiralty Oiler "Slavol," which was the only immediately available vessel. His Majesty's Ship "Suffolk," a cruiser proceeding to China and which was steaming towards Colombo from the westward, was instructed to increase speed to intercept and assist the "Jervis Bay." The last part of the question does not now arise.