§ 18. Mr. LOGANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, arising out of the loss of the oil-tanker "La Crescenta," with all hands, he is aware that the master of the vessel wrote to relatives on 6th July last from Los Angeles, to the effect that they had had a. bad break down at sea during the preceding week; that a member of the crew, in a letter to a relative, stated that the ship was getting very old, was continually breaking down, and that there had been a dispute about the cost of engine repairs at Los Angeles; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will cause full inquiry to be held into the loss of this vessel?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI should like to take this opportunity of expressing my deep sympathy, in which I am sure that the House will join, with the relatives of those lost in this disaster. Full enquiry is being made into the loss of the vessel. I should explain that the enquiry is necessarily taking somewhat longer than usual as the vessel was engaged mainly on trade between foreign countries and rarely visited this country. I am not aware of the facts given in the first part of the question but if the hon. Member has any definite information regarding the condition of this ship I should be glad if he would forward it to me.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI could not say that.