Page 23 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 23 - 26

not? - To the Marine Department, yes. 22848. And you served in that capacity with the Board of Trade until August, 1911? - Until August, 1911, that is right. 22849. I think you were due to retire in 1910, but in order to complete certain negotiations with foreign countries you stayed on? - I did. 22850. I want to avoid as far as I can travelling over the ground that was travelled over by Sir Walter Howell yesterday, but you have your office in London, I believe? - Yes, Whitehall Gardens. 22851. Certain questions have been asked, and perhaps it is well the matter should be dealt with: You have immediately under you two other gentlemen, one Mr. Boyle? - Yes. 22852. He is the Engineer Surveyor? - Yes, Engineer Surveyor-in-chief. 22853. And the other is Mr. Archer? - Yes. 22854. And he deals with the hull and matters of that sort? - Yes. 22855. Now, just in order to see what happened in the case of the “Titanic” and that class of ship, the “Titanic” as we know, was built at Belfast, and in order to comply with the law relating to passenger ships, she had to obtain a Board of Trade passenger certificate? - That is so. 22856. And the officer who was surveying the ship at Belfast was a Mr. Carruthers? - For the “Titanic” I do not know; I left the Board before the “Titanic” was finished. 22857. At any rate, we know he was, and what would happen would be this, that as the ship was being built he would send over the plans to these two gentlemen we have mentioned, Mr. Archer and Mr. Boyle? - That is so. 22858. And if, while the ship was being built, there was no difference of opinion between him and the builders as to whether the Board of Trade Regulations were being complied with he again would seek the advice of the head office? - Of course, that is the case. 22859. And then what eventually would happen would be that that gentleman on the spot, whom we know to be Mr. Carruthers, would make a declaration that the Board of Trade requirements had been complied with, he would give that to the owners, the owners would send it on then to the headquarters in London? - That is the procedure. 22860. And then Sir Walter Howell would issue the passenger certificate? - Yes. 22861. And then the next step the Board of Trade would take would be this: the ship having been built, having got her passenger certificate, then goes to Southampton, and then the Emigration Officer comes on to the scene? - That is so. 22862. We know his name was Captain Clarke - perhaps you do not; and then he has to comply with the law relating to the clearance of an emigrant ship? - Yes. 22863. That is the procedure? - That is the procedure. 22864. I believe, so far as the “Titanic” is concerned you yourself had nothing to do with the supervising; you took no part in the supervision of her building? - No. 22865. Of that you know nothing? - No. 22866. You left your office, as you told us, in 1911, and you were succeeded by Captain Young? - That is the case. 22867. Who at the present time holds that office? - Yes. 22868. During your term of office did you sit on various Committees which were considering the question of the safety of ships? - Yes. 22869. I do not want to know the names of any of them, but you did sit on those Committees? - Yes, I did, on many Committees. 22870. You have told us that you became a professional member in 1896, and we know that in 1894 the Rules which have been referred to were enacted? - The 1894 Rules were in force. 22871. They were in force when you came into office? - That is the case. 22872. But I believe they have been the subject matter of your consideration from time to