HC Deb 21 May 1914 vol 62 c2161W
Mr. GEORGE TERRELL

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he took any and, if any, what steps to cause search to be made for the recently discovered third boat of the steamship "Columbian"?

Mr. BURNS

No, Sir. The vessel was lost on the other side of the Atlantic on a frequented trade route. In such circumstances, I am of opinion that no search for missing boats that could be undertaken by the Board of Trade could possibly add materially to the continuous search which would naturally be carried out by the large number of vessels on and near the route.