Mr. Plimsoll's Bill was talked out in the House of
Commons on Wednesday, a result to be regretted, as it appears to convey what we take to be a false impression that Parliament is indiffer- ent to the interests of the seamen, whereas Parliament only means that the question is one big enough for the Executive. The- honourable gentleman would certainly have made more way with a great question in which public opinion ran strongly with him, had he been, we will not say a little less zealous, but a little more careful in his statements in the first instance, and a little more ready to retract or alter when he was shown to be in error.. He has, we see, taken counsel with certain representative ship- owners, and will, we hope, end by taking counsel with the Board of Trade. The sooner he banishes from his brain the idea that the Board of Trade and the Shipowners are in a conspiracy to get ships wrecked and seamen drowned, the better.
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