ADMEASUREMENT OF TONNAGE. (Hansard, 11 February 1850)

§ MR. LABOUCHERE

said, he had again to trespass upon the attention of the House for a few moments, with regard to a measure which was of great importance to the mercantile marine of the country, but upon which he felt himself incompetent to express an opinion. He had now to move a resolution for leave to bring in a Bill for regulating the admeasurement of the tonnage and burden of merchant shipping. It was obvious that in dealing with this subject, scientific knowledge was required, to 698 which he could have no pretensions; but the measure was founded on the recommendation of a commission appointed during the last Session to consider this important question, at the head of which was Lord John Hay, who had lately resigned his seat in that House, and who had been assisted by the chairman of Lloyd's, by several of the most eminent shipowners of the country, and also by gentlemen professing the highest scientific knowledge. He felt, therefore, that he brought forward the Bill upon authority which would induce the House to receive it with favour, and to give it their attentive consideration. He would only state to the House the general principles on which the Bill was founded; and he believed, if it were adopted, it would obviate the acknowledged evils of the present system, and would tend materially to improve the building of the ships engaged in our merchant navy. The present system of measurement was established by an Act passed in the 9th Victoria, to obviate the defects of the present system. The tonnage of the ships had previously been calculated by the breadth and length of the vessels alone, without considering their depth. This led to the construction of ships, with a view to the payment of tonnage dues, in a manner equally inconsistent with their appearance as works of art, and with good sailing qualities. Under the present system of measurement, however, in computing the internal capacity of a ship, the depth of the vessel, as well as the length and breadth, was taken into consideration; but experience had shown that the existing system was scarcely an improvement upon that for which it had been substituted. Ships were built in a manner which would enable them to carry a large amount of cargo at the least charge for tonnage dues. The existing system, he believed, operated very unjustly with regard to the larger class of vessels as compared with the smaller class. The system of measurement which had been proposed by the commission, and which he ventured on their authority to recommend to the House, was founded upon the basis of real power of carrying cargo, as measured by the displacement of water, or the correct external cubical contents of the vessel. The commissioners had suggested an adjustment of the new to the old system, which he apprehended would be carried out without any practical difficulty; but he would not trouble the House with details on these matters, He would only observe 699 that, with regard to steam ships, the engine rooms would not be included in the admeasurement of tonnage. 3. Resolved—That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Regulation of the Admeasurement of the Tonnage and Burthen of the Merchant Shipping.