§ MR. MORLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade, If it is a fact that the Corporation of the Trinity House has decided to erect a Lighthouse on Bull Point, in the Bristol Channel; if it is a fact that the Nautical and Mercantile authorities, the Dock and Harbour Boards and the Channel Pilots have strongly recommended that such Lighthouse should be erected on Morte Stone in preference; if it be a fact that the shipping interest has expressed its willingness to pay the higher rates of toll which might be rendered necessary by the larger expenditure on the erection at Morte Stone, the Board of Trade having raised no objection to the large outlay; and supposing the facts to be as 1256 above stated, would the President of the Board of Trade use his influence to have the decision changed?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYIt is the fact, Sir, that the Corporation of Trinity House have decided to erect a lighthouse on Bull Point in the Bristol Channel. The Chambers of Commerce at Bristol, Cardiff, and Southampton, the Bristol Docks Committee, and the shipping interest at Bideford, have expressed an opinion to me that Morte Stone is a preferable site; but no other Bodies, as seems suggested in the Question. The shipping interest represented by the Bodies I have named, are willing to pay the higher rate of tolls which will be necessary if Morte Stone were adopted; but they represent a comparatively small proportion of the entire trade who will have to pay light dues for this light. The Board of Trade were distinctly told by the Elder Brethren that even if they had approved the larger expenditure, the Trinity House would nevertheless adhere to their selection of Bull Point as the site which in their opinion is the best, both for outward and homeward bound ships. The Board of Trade have no power to interfere with the Trinity House in their selection of sites for lighthouses, or to impose plans upon them; and I therefore cannot undertake to use influence which I do not possess. I will only say that I know that the Trinity House, who are unexceptionable judges of a question like this, have taken every means of judging fully and fairly in this case.
§ MR. MORLEYgave Notice that he would, on a early day, call the attention of the House to the subject.