HC Deb 02 May 1862 vol 166 cc1188-9

Order for Committee read.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

moved that the House go into Committee on this Bill.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."

MR. BENTINCK

said, he would express a hope that his right hon. Friend (Mr. M. Gibson) would take more extended powers than the Bill contained with regard to compulsory pilotage. He hoped, also, that he would introduce a provision to relieve masters and owners from the consequences of any accident that might occur to a vessel under the compulsory charge of a pilot. He also had to complain that the Bill did not go far enough on the subject of lighting the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. The House probably were not aware of the enormous sum of money that was wasted in the lighting of our coasts. The cost of lighting the coasts of this country was somewhere in excess of £200,000, whereas the cost of lighting the whole coast of France was about £48,000. The same irregularity and want of system existed in respect of the buoys placed round the coast. The system of pilotage ought to be carefully considered and revised, and he hoped that compulsory pilotage would be done away with altogether, and a provision introduced by which every man qualified to act as a pilot would be able to ask to be allowed to undergo the necessary examination, and having proved his competency, to acquire a licence to act as pilot.

MR. MONCKTON MILNES

said, he fully concurred in the observations of his hon. Friend opposite. Nothing could be more oppressive than that a ship should be compelled to take a pilot of a certain class, and that the owner of the vessel should be liable for any accident that such a pilot might cause. He trusted the Go- vernment would abolish compulsory pilotage as soon as possible.

MR. LOCKE

said, he would move the adjournment of the debate.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, if the hon. Gentleman would allow the Speaker to leave the Chair, he (Mr. Gibson) would immediately move that the Chairman report progress.

LORD HOTHAM

said, he objected to that course.

MR. AYRTON

said, he also advocated the adjournment of the debate.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, he would agree to the adjournment.

Debate adjourned till Monday next,

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