HL Deb 01 August 1902 vol 112 cc387-9
LORD MUSKERRY

My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether one of their latest appointments to a position as nautical assessor at formal investigations into shipping casualties, is a gentleman who has held an official position under the Board of Trade, and has now been retired on a pension owing to reaching the age limit (sixty-five); whether it is a fact that the gentleman in question has had no actual experience at sea for the past twenty-two years; and if so, whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which has been expressed at the manner in which these maritime tribunals are constituted, and in justice to those implicated thereat, proper precautions will be taken when making such appointments in the future, that shipmasters who have had up-to-date experience in modern merchant vessels will be selected.

THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (The Earl of DUDLEY)

My Lords, the appointment of nautical assessors to inquire into cases of wreck is a matter which really rests with the Home Office; but, as my noble friend Lord Belper is not able to be here today, perhaps the noble Lord behind me will allow me to answer the question on his behalf. I presume that the gentleman referred to in the question is Captain Cowie, an officer who, for the last twenty-one years, has performed very valuable and responsible services under the Board of Trade. Captain Cowie served, first of all, for twenty-nine years in the merchant service. For sixteen years of those twenty-nine he commanded vessels, both steamships and sailing vessels, and at the end of that time — namely, in 1881 — he was appointed principal officer at Hull. From there he was transferred in 1889, in a similar capacity, to Leith, where he remained until May of this year, when he was obliged to retire under the age limit. He has since been appointed nautical assessor for inquiries into wrecks by the Home Secretary. My noble friend appears to be dissatisfied with that appointment on the ground that twenty - two years had elapsed since Captain Cowie had any personal sea experience. That is true; but the Home Secretary is of opinion—and I am bound to say that I think a good many people will agree with him—that if a man like Captain Cowie, who has had a long sea service, is able to discharge successfully the very varied and responsible duties of principal officer at places like Hull and Leith, there is no reason to suppose that he is not amply qualified to discharge the duties of his new office. For, though Captain Cowie may not actually have been to sea for twenty-two years, yet, during that time, he has been in constant and close touch with ships, and with all classes and ranks of seamen. He has, therefore, been obliged to keep abreast of the times. If he had not done so, he would have failed as principal officer; but, instead of having failed, he has been, as my noble friend, I think, knows, a very marked and conspicuous success. Sea service is no doubt a very valuable asset for any man who seeks a position of this kind, but I doubt if any intelligent man, after he has been to sea for twenty-nine years, and has commanded ships for sixteen years, has very much more to learn in matters either of navigation or seamanship. I would submit, with all diffidence to my noble friend, because, after all, he has a personal experience of these matters which I cannot lay any claim to, that experience such as that which Captain Cowie has gained as principal officer at Hull and at Leith is at any rate as valuable to him, and as likely to stand him in good stead in his new post, as if he had continued to tramp the sea discharging duties which had become almost mechanical from their continual performance. There is only one other point in the Question on which I desire to make any remark. My noble friend uses these words— In view of the dissatisfaction which has been expressed at the manner in which these maritime tribunals are constituted. I am authorised to say that the Home Office are not aware that any dissatisfaction has been expressed with regard to the constitution of these tribunals. The Home Secretary is perfectly ready and willing to receive any representations which may be made to him with regard to the qualifications of the assessors he has appointed, but he is not prepared to admit any such hard-and-fast rule as that suggested by my noble friend's question. In the present case the Home Secretary is confident—and I am sure the House will agree with him—that by reason of his experience and his long service as principal officer at Hull and Leith, Captain Cowie possesses every qualification necessary to perform the duties of a nautical assessor.