HC Deb 01 July 1845 vol 81 cc1397-8
Captain Berkeley

moved— That the Resolution—'That no private Bill for the construction of Railways, or other Public Works, to which the consent of the Admiralty is required, will be committed, until the decision of the Admiralty shall be communicated to the House,' be made a Standing Order.

Lord G. Somerset

thought the House ought not to agree to this proposition, because it was, in fact, asking the House to suspend its proceedings until a Government Board gave its opinion on the railway schemes brought before it. This was the most extraordinary proposition he had ever heard. Certainly the Committees had the means of arriving at a more correct estimate of the value of the Bills before them than the Board of Admiralty could possibly have. He was quite opposed to the Motion of the hon. and gallant Member.

Mr. Warburton

did not see why the House should be precluded from going into the evidence on any railway project until they had received the consent of the Board of Admiralty.

Captain Berkeley

replied: His argument was, that the Admiralty should have the power of protecting the public, and individuals also; and he would give the House an illustration. Supposing an individual had a right to a ferry over a navigable river, and that a projected bridge would destroy his interests, as well as the navigation of that river. He was too poor to prosecute an opposition before that House, but he memorialised the Board of Admiralty, and they took measures for that purpose. He should take the sense of the House on the subject.

The House divided; Ayes 22; Noes 70: Majority 48.

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