HC Deb 25 April 1850 vol 110 c842

The House went into Committee on this Bill.

MR. PARKER

explained, at the request of Captain Harris, that the object of the Bill was to enable the Admiralty to hand over prize money unclaimed, and in their hands, to the Consolidated Fund. Without such a measure it could not be appropriated in aid of the estimates.

CAPTAIN HARRIS

said, he thought that the Government ought to take the distribution of prize-money into their own hands. The distribution was now left to agents, and in case of their bankruptcy the sailor lost the whole of his prize-money. There was at present great difficulty in obtaining prize-money, but he believed that this Bill would render its recovery still more complicated and difficult.

SIR F. T. BARING

observed, that in consequence of the House having pressed strongly upon the Government a new mode of making the estimates, it had been necessary to bring forward a Bill to alter the original mode of distribution. He considered that this Bill, instead of increasing the difficulty of recovering prize-money, would afford greater security to seamen.

CAPTAIN HARRIS

said, he felt it his duty to oppose the measure.

Motion made, and Question put, "That the Bill be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 70; Noes 5: Majority 65.

List of the NOES.
Bennet, P. Hornby, J.
Grogan, E. TELLERS.
Gwyn, H. Harris, Capt.
Hodgson, W. N. Stuart, J.

Bill reported; as amended to be considered To-morrow.

The House adjourned at a quarter before One o'clock.