LORD MUSKERRYMy Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government what developments have arisen regarding the negotiations between the Board of Trade and the shipowners on the loading-port clause in ships' articles; also, whether any mutual arrangement has been arrived at whereby the expense to shipowners and shipmasters and friction amongst ships' crews, arising out of the circular instructions of the Board of Trade on the interpretation of this clause, may now be removed. I would remind your Lordships that when I brought this matter before the House in May of last year I was then told that the subject was in the hands of the law officers of the Crown. I think some decision ought to have been come to by now. Only the other day at Cardiff four men belonging to a Whit by steamer were fined and ordered to forfeit twenty-nine days' pay through listening to the advice given them by the Board of Trade superintendent at Birkenhead, who told them that they were entitled to leave the ship at the final port of discharge and were not bound to proceed to the port of loading.
LORD WOLVERTONMy Lords, In answer to the Question which my noble friend has placed on the Paper I have to say that the Board of Trade have had this matter under their further consideration and have come to the conclusion that it would be desirable in the interests of all parties that an authoritative decision should be obtained. One meeting has already been held with officers of the Shipping Federation, and it is proposed to ask the representatives of that body to attend a further conference for the purpose of arranging with them the best way in which a test case can be taken.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, to Thursday next, half-past Ten o'clock.