§ 7. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade what action the Board of Trade are taking or contemplating restricting the amount of water-ballast spaces which may be deducted or exempted from gross tonnage measurement for purposes of tonnage and light dues; and whether he will reconsider the matter as it affects the smaller class of vessels in the interests of safety?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe Merchant Shipping Acts impose limitations in general terms on the amount of water-ballast spaces that may be deducted from the gross tonnage of a ship, and among other things they require such spaces to be "reasonable in extent." The Board of Trade have, for some time, had the matter under consideration with a view to establishing, within the statutory limitations, an agreed basis, acceptable to the various interests concerned, for determining the maximum allowances to be granted to normally constructed ships, and in this connection the position of the small class of vessels is being taken fully into account.