Mr. S. ALLENasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the local Marine Board inquiry, held at Newcastle on the 1st December last, to investigate charges made against the master of the s.s. "Wallsend," which charges were found not proven, the court regarding the evidence tendered as unsatisfactory; whether he is aware that, whereas the inquiry was ordered for a Monday afternoon, the captain only received notice of it on the previous Friday; and whether. 'in view of the fact that such notice was wholly inadequate in enabling the captain properly to establish his defence, especially in the way of procuring rebutting evidence, he will direct that in all inquiries where the conduct of shipmasters is impugned, the Board of Trade will ensure that they are given ample notice?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe facts of this case are substantially as stated. The evidence essential to local Marine Board inquiries is usually that of officers and seamen who, by the nature of their calling, are constantly away from home, and moving from port to port. They cannot be detained as witnesses for any considerable length of time without involving them in undue hardship. Consequently, immediate advantage must be taken of the presence of several witnesses in this country at the same time as the accused, and this was done in this case. Although the master was only served with a summons on Friday, 28th November, he was informed about a week earlier that an inquiry was likely to be heard. He called five witnesses, and was defended by a barrister who could, had he wished, have applied for an adjournment. It does not appear that any hardship was caused to the master by the shortness of the period between the serving of the summons and the holding of the inquiry.