§ Mr. CHADWICKasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, while the greater proportion of and all the best-managed British ships adopt the three-watch system in regard to deck officers, there are a considerable number of shipowners who still maintain the two-watch system; that this system is unfair to the men themselves, and does not make for the safe or efficient navigation of the ship; whether he will use his efforts to bring about a general adoption of the three-watch system in regard to deck officers; and whether he is aware that at the present time there are over 1,000 certificated British officers out of employment, and that the general adoption of the three-watch system would absorb a large portion of these unemployed officers?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe three-watch system is part of the larger question of manning and hours of labour on British ships, which is now under consideration, and which I hope it will be possible to settle in the near future.