Mr. WEBB:

Under the Merchant Shipping Acts any person who sends or attempts to send an unseaworthy ship to sea is guilty of a misdemeanour. These Acts further give power to the Board of Trade and their officers to detain unseaworthy ships. There are no statutory regulations as to unseaworthiness. The detention of unseaworthy ships is one of the most important duties of the Board of Trade surveyors. The present staff is considered sufficient to carry out the statutory duties of the Board, but the matter is constantly under observation, and if the staff were found to be inadequate, steps would be taken to increase it.