§ 19. Sir B. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as regards the recommendation of the court which investigated the loss of the steamship "Molesey" with eight lives, when it was found that the vessel in bad weather became unseaworthy through insufficient ballasting, he can state whether any cases of unseaworthiness under similar circumstances have come under the notice of the Board of Trade within the past five years; and whether strandings of other British merchant ships have been attributed to insufficient ballasting by marine investigations set on foot by the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMDuring the period mentioned, there is no ease in which the stranding of a ship has been attributed, by a court of inquiry, to insufficient ballasting, and no case can at present be traced in the Department in which a ship has been reported as unseaworthy owing to this cause.
§ 20. Sir B. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the judgment of the court of inquiry which recently investigated the circumstances of the loss of the steamship "Molesey" with eight lives; and whether he proposes to take any steps in respect to the recommendation of the court that a light load-line for merchant vessels should be introduced?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe report of the court of inquiry into the loss of the steamship "Molesey" has just been received, and will be carefully considered. In the meantime I am unable to make any statement as to the action which may be taken on the court's recommendations.
Mr. MACLEANIn view of the loss of life because of the unseaworthiness of many vessels, is it not time that a definite load-line was established?
§ Mr. GRAHAMMy hon. Friend is referring to the deep load-line. That is a very much wider question. The point raised in the question is the possibility of a light load-line, which should be submerged. That is the reverse process.