On Monday evening Mr. Crooks moved the adjournment of the
House in order to 'urge on the President of the Board of Trade the neoessity of constituting a Court of Inquiry at once to investigate the circumstances of the loss of the 'Titanic.' Mr. Sydney Buxton, who had been severely cross- examined at question time, amplified his previous assurances by announcing that be had obtained the Lord Chancellor's consent to the appointment of a Special Wreck Commissioner, and that Lord Mersey—better known as Mr. Justice Bighatn, who was President of the Admiralty Division in 1909-1910— had undertaken the duty of presiding at the Court of Inquiry. He would be assisted by assessors, whose names would shortly be announced ; the Court would have adequate power to secure the attendance of witnesses, and there would be free exercise of the existing power to maintain poor witnesses during the whole time of their attendance. He added that the White Star Company had promised to secure the presence of every member of the crew whose evidence would be wanted.
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