§ 63. Dr. DRUMMOND SHIELSasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the case of the sailing vessel "Gunga Hosseini" which was sunk on or about 16th June last year by the steamship "Clan Lindsay"; and if, seeing that it is alleged that the officers of the "Clan Lindsay" on duty did not stop the ship, made no inquiry as to the results of the collision, that 10 of the crew of 22 were drowned, and that the evidence of the survivors was not heard at the court of inquiry in Colombo, he will now order a full inquiry, where the facts could be ascertained and the evidence of the survivors of the crew heard?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSThe answer is rather long but, with the permission of the House, I will read it.
The findings of the Court at Colombo which inquired into this casualty last June were as follows:
The attention of the Board of Trade was called to this case at the time, and an application was made to the Department to order a rehearing. After careful consideration the Board came to the conclusion that the case was not one in which they should order a rehearing, as the finding of the Court was not contradicted in any material particular by the depositions of the survivors of the sailing vessel, and there was no reason to think that the finding would have been materially different had the witnesses from the sailing vessel been available.
- "1. The cause or causes which led to the collision between the s.s. 'Clan Lindsay' and the dhow 'Gunga Hossein' at about 4 a.m. on 16th June, 1928, was the omission by the said dhow to carry regulation lights.
- 2. The collision was not due to any act or default on the part of any of the officers or crew of the ship.
- 3. Sufficient diligence was exercised by the officer of the watch or any other officer or man of the ship, and had the dhow exhibited regulation lights its presence would have been detected in time to avoid the collision.
- 4. The second officer was guilty of negligence in not reporting the occurrence to the captain forthwith.
1307 - 5. The chief officer was guilty of negligence in not reporting the occurrence to the captain forthwith.
- 6. The said negligence was not of such a degree as to justify the cancellation or suspension of the certificates of either the second officer or chief officer."
§ Dr. SHIELSIn view of the fact that considerations of British justice and humanity are involved in this matter, would the hon. Gentleman's Department be prepared to consider representations from responsible bodies in Ceylon, either in regard to the statement which he has just made or in regard to other evidence which was not available at the inquiry?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSNaturally, we shall be prepared to receive any representations, but, having regard to the fact that full depositions were taken from all the survivors, I think that the causes of the accident are quite clear, and I do not think that any grave blame is to be imputed to anyone for the loss of life suffered.
§ Dr. SHIELSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the dhow was washed ashore—
§ Mr. SPEAKERA very full answer has been given.