§ Order for Consideration read.
§ MR. R. HODGSONsaid, the Bill was promoted by a private society called the 284 British Fisheries Society, and he objected to the measure on the ground that it enlarged the jurisdiction of that society, and enabled them to levy rates on the tonnage entering the bay of Wick, from whatever cause, whether by accident or for orders, and also that it extended the establishment of compulsory pilotage. He should therefore move to omit the proviso to Clause 22, which related to the establishment of compulsory pilotage.
§ Amendment proposed, in page 8, line 36, to leave out from the word "pounds" to the word "Provided," in page 9, line 1.
§ MR. MASSEYobserved, that the course taken by the hon. Member was a perfectly novel one, and one that, if generally followed, would lead to great inconvenience in the conduct of private business. He had received no intimation that it was the intention of the hon. Gentleman to propose the Amendment, nor had the officer who was specially charged with the duty of examining all proposed amendments. The clauses had been argued by counsel, and had been fully considered in the Select Committee, and the usual course would have been, if the hon. Member considered that a wrong decision had been come to, to move the re-commitment of the Bill.
LORD HENRY LENNOXsaid, he also should oppose the Amendment, on the ground that the Bill and the particular point to which the hon. Member had called attention had received the most anxious and patient attention, not only of the Committee of that House, but also of a Committee in another place, one of the Members of which had once been President of the Board of Trade.
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.
§ Bill to be read 3°.