31. Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the proposal of the International Conference as regards the alteration of orders to helmsmen at sea; what attitude was adopted by the British delegate at the recent conference on the subject; and whether it is proposed ultimately to lay before Parliament for ratification any specific recommendations for a change in the existing procedure?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMArticle 41 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1929, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, provides that after midnight on the 30th June, 1931, helm or steering orders shall on all the ships of the contracting parties be given in the direct sense. The Convention was unanimous, and no reservation was made by the British or other delegation on this subject. The Convention will not be ratified or come in force until it has been approved by Parliament, and a Bill for the purpose of giving effect to the Convention will be introduced in due course.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the only British seaman on the sub-committee on Helm Orders went sick and that our representative's voice was not heard at all on this subject?
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNIs the President of the Board of Trade not aware that there is much feeling in seafaring circles against this change?
§ Mr. GRAHAMCertainly, representations have reached me, and they have been very carefully considered, but I 236 would direct the attention of the House to the terms of my reply, which states that this was a unanimous recommendation.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer my question with regard to our representative?
§ Mr. ALBERYMay I point out that there is a subsequent question down on the Paper with reference to this subject?
§ 38. Mr. ALBERYasked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the international conference which decided on the change in helm orders, whether any British representative was present and took part who possessed professional qualifications of a seafaring nature; and, if so, will he state the nature of those qualifications?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I say that I did not notice this question in the name of the hon. Member for Gravesend (Mr. Albery), and that I am very sorry I intervened on a previous question on this subject?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe United Kingdom delegation to the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, 1929, included, in addition to Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond, who was President of the Conference, three Master Mariners with extensive sea experience. The delegations from the Dominions included five Captains in the Merchant Service.
§ Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a substantial section of the Mercantile Marine is in favour of this change, and will he bear in mind the fact that much of the opposition comes from shore-living officials?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYNothing of the kind!
§ Mr. GRAHAMI will certainly have regard to the point that my hon. Friend has raised.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs my right hon. Friend aware that the subcommittee which dealt with helm orders had one British seaman on it, who went sick, and that, therefore, our voice was not heard at all?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have already given my hon. and gallant Friend a reply on that point.
§ Mr. SEXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the long and historic tradition of the sea with respect to this question, and the fact that it may take a generation of new men to understand the new orders that will be given?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI can assure my hon. Friend that representations are being made to me on this point, in which all these facts are being included, and they will be very carefully considered.