Mr. Liddell (now Lord Eslington), who represented a large maritime constituency, and had for years directed his attention with unwearied zeal to all seafaring questions; Mr. Milner Gibson, who had filled the office of President of the Board of Trade; Sir James Hope, an Admiral of great experience; Mr. Rothery, the Registrar of the Admiralty Court; Mr. Cohen, a well-known barrister-at-law; Mr. Denny, an eminent shipbuilder; Mr. George Duncan, an experienced Shipowner, and a member of the Committee of Lloyd's Register; Mr. Edgell, of the Trinity House; and Mr. C. W. Merrifield, F.R.S. and late Principal of the Royal School of Naval Architecture.
Their order of reference By such a Commission the most searching inquiry was to be instituted "with regard to the alleged unseaworthiness of British registered ships, whether arising form overloading, deck-loading, defective construction, form equipment, machinery, age, or improper stowage." The Commission was also instructed "to inquire into the present system of marine insurance; the state of the law as to the liability of shipowners for injury to those whom they employ, and also the alleged practice of under-manning ships; they were likewise to suggest any amendments of the law which might remedy or lessen such evils as may be found to have arisen from the matters aforesaid."
A careful analysis of Mr. Plimsoll's statements showed that he attributed the causes of shipwreck to unseaworthiness, owing to want of repair; overloading, which includes the carriage of cargo on deck; under-manning; bad stowage; inadequate engine
