§ Sir K. WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now state the result of the promised consideration of the Board of Trade to proposals contained in the paper, entitled "Discipline in the Merchant Service," read by Commodore C. A. Bartlett, C.B., C.B.E., R.N.R., before a meeting of shipmasters, at Liverpool, on 13th of February of last year?
Mr. ALEXANDERThere is general agreement as to the nature of the problem to be solved, but it is not easy to find a solution that will be really satisfactory. The only immediate measure that could be taken by the Board of Trade would be to sanction a moderate increase in the fines entered in the agreement with the crew, and the Board of Trade are not convinced that this by itself would have the effect desired. They will, however, continue to watch this question and do all they can to forward a solution of the problem.