80 
the leader of the organisation with which he was con- 
nected in the West of England, Mr. Samuel Plimsoll, had 
he not been kept away by domestic affliction. One ques- 
tion had been touched upon by the Chairman which he 
thought required consideration at the present moment, 
namely, the utilisation of convict labour. On many parts 
of the coast there were places where this labour could be 
utilised without any extravagant expense in looking after 
them. Amongst them he might especially allude to Lundy 
Island, in the Bristol Channel. This place offered great 
facilities for the protection of vessels, being in proximity 
to the open sea, a short distance from Penarth Roads, and 
shelter could be afforded there in stress of weather, which 
would much reduce the loss of life. He was glad to see 
that in Ireland they had obtained small grants from the 
Government, and had in some places carried out some 
improvements ; but Government had not yet assisted the 
Irish fishermen on the south and west coast to the extent 
that was desirable. . 
Mr. BLOOMFIELD said, as far as Ireland was concerned, 
£250,000 had been allocated for harbours, and in a short 
time they hoped the Government would see to its being 
expended in the best manner possible. 
Mr. HEPTON (Grimsby) said he felt at a very great 
disadvantage in speaking on this subject. He had heard 
it said that a good way for a man to become a public 
speaker was to go into the fields and talk to the trees, and 
he would not mind spending five years talking to the trees 
if it would only enable him to find words to express what 
he felt with regard to the prevention of loss of life at 
sea. It might seem rather curious, but, having thought 
on this subject a great deal, he was convinced that the 
one they were speaking about yesterday, viz., the destruc- 
