Page 214 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

19377. I would like to direct your attention to the evidence given on this point by Mr. Ismay in the American Enquiry. It is right I should say that this was not put to Mr. Ismay here in the witness-box, but it is from the Official Report of the evidence. If your Lordship thinks it right, I will suggest to you the question I propose to put. The Attorney-General: What are you reading from? Mr. Scanlan: I am reading from the Report of Tuesday, the 30th April. The Commissioner: What is the question? Mr. Scanlan: Mr. Ismay is asked here, “How does it happen that the “Titanic” had but 20 lifeboats? Sir Robert Finlay: What page are you referring to? Mr. Scanlan: Page 925, “How does it happen that the “Titanic” had but 20 lifeboats including lifeboats, emergency boats, and collapsible boats? - (Mr. Ismay.) That was a matter for the builders, Sir, and I presume that they were fulfilling all the requirements of the Board of Trade.” The Commissioner: That is quite right. Mr. Scanlan: That is what I put to you, Mr. Sanderson? - I think I have answered very much on the same lines. 19378. That it was left in the first instance to them? - Yes; that it was left in the first instance to them. They would submit a profile plan of the ship showing the boating arrangement to us, and they would undoubtedly say that it complied with the Board of Trade requirements, and as the result of this conversation which I am giving, referring to the additional boats with which she was supplied were put on, but as to what we said or what Lord Pirrie said on that particular occasion, I cannot say. 19379. And so far as you know is there any correspondence available to you in reference to this matter? - Yes. The Solicitor-General asked me yesterday to have our records looked up - The Commissioner: No, no; do answer the question. It admits of “Yes” or “No” or “I do not know”; and you can give any one of the three. Do not have any discussion, or we shall never get to the end of this Enquiry. 19380. (Mr. Scanlan.) There is no such correspondence - you have never heard of it? - I said yes, there was. The Commissioner: Then there is an end of that question. 19381. (Mr. Scanlan.) Quite. (To the Witness.) Will you produce that correspondence? - I have handed it to the Board of Trade. 19382. Apart from what the Board of Trade or the Advisory Committee may have been contemplating, had it suggested itself to you in view of the increase in the carrying accommodation, and in the size of those sister ships, the “Olympic” and the “Titanic,” that, independently, your firm ought to provide more lifeboats? - It had not - when you say - The Commissioner: No, no. You have given your answer. The Witness: My Lord, he has made a statement which is not correct. The Commissioner: No, he has not made a statement; he asked a question, and you answered it. The question was quite intelligible, and so was your answer. The Witness: With all respect, my Lord, he has made a statement that there is an increase in the carrying capacity of the ships. The Commissioner: No, he has not. He asked a question and you answered it. 19383. (Mr. Scanlan.) The davits which were supplied for the “Olympic” and “Titanic” are, I understand, what are called Welin double-acting davits? - Yes, they are. 19384. Before the building of the “Olympic” and “Titanic” were such davits supplied for any of your other ships? - They were. 19385. Is the object of having these davits in order to enable you to deal with a larger number of boats with each pair of davits? - Not that I am aware of.