§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the finding of the formal investigation held at Cardiff on 17th September and following days to inquire into the loss of the steamship "North Briton," involving the loss of twenty lives, was that the primary cause of the loss of the vessel was her insufficient freeboard; whether this was due to violation of the Board of Trade Regulations, and, if so, whether any action has been taken against the owners, or, if the Regulations were complied with, whether, in the interests of safety at sea, he will have the Regulations re the load line and deck cargoes restored to what they were prior to the alterations in 1906?
Mr. BUXTONI am aware of the finding of the Court which inquired into the loss of the "North Briton," and this case will be considered, among others, by the Load Line Committee which has just been appointed. The existing Regulations as to load line were not infringed in this case, and the question of deck loads did not arise.