CINQUE PORTS. (Hansard, 12 March 1835)

§ Sir Thomas Troubridge
moved for a return of all appointments made, during the last ten years, by or under the control of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports; specifying the particular duties attached to each, and the respective salaries, fees, and other emoluments thereto attached; and from what funds such emoluments are derived.

Mr. Williams
observed that there appeared to be grounds for suspecting that the appointment of Pilots, was but too often influenced by political considerations. It appeared that in one case, out of a crew of fifty-three Pilots, forty-eight were freemen of Dover; and that in another, out of a crew of forty-two, twenty-nine were freemen.

Colonel Evans
said, his opinion was, 903 that it was now full time, to put the pilotage of the ports of this kingdom, under a better government than it had heretofore been; and, indeed, to put an end to the office of Lord Warden altogether, which was generally filled by an individual not of a naval character.

§ Sir H. Hardinge
considered that the gallant officer, in objecting to the office of Lord Warden, because it was not filled by a naval officer, might as well say that the office of First Lord of the Admiralty, ought to be filled by a naval officer.

Colonel Evans
said, there was no analogy between the offices; but the point to which he intended to call attention was, that as respected the maritime interests, the office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was an anomaly. He did not see why there should be a Lord Warden to a particular part of the Channel. The consequence of the present arrangement, was frequently great danger to human life. The port of Rye had been omitted by Act of Parliament from the same jurisdiction as the other ports; and the Lord Warden, therefore, not thinking proper to appoint pilots for Rye, there had been no pilots there for a series of years. The pilots of that part of the Channel ought to be placed under the control of the Trinity Board.

§ Mr. Robinson
said, that although the papers moved for, related to the Cinque Ports, yet the question extended itself to other places. He was happy that Government had taken up the subject. He believed there were no complaints, generally speaking, respecting pilotage from places where competition was open, but that the complaints came from places where the appointments were made in secret, which was a system highly prejudicial to their efficiency, and to the maritime interests.