HC Deb 16 March 1863 vol 169 cc1547-9

Order for Third Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, I "That the Bill be now read the third time."

MR. H. BERKELEY

said, he rose to oppose the Bill. It consisted of one clause only, empowering the Admiralty to send the Volunteers to any part of the world; whereas by the existing Act they could not be sent to a greater distance more than 300 miles-from the British shores. If the Bill should pass it, would go far to destroy the Naval Volunteer Service. The men of the Naval Volunteer Service lived on the sea coast, and were engaged mostly in the fisheries, and they were the best security for the country, but they strongly objected to be removed from the localities in which they lived. The force had been created by the late Sir James Graham and a near relative of his (Mr. Berkeley's), Lord Fitzhardinge, who, if his health had permitted it, would have been in his place elsewhere to oppose the Bill. The only reason he had heard for the Bill was that in the case of a war, if a privateer were to appear on our coast, a captain of a vessel manned by Volunteers would be unable to follow that privateer beyond certain limits. Now; the answer to that was that no vessel having Englishmen on board would ever decline to follow an enemy anywhere. He moved that the Bill be road a second time that day six months.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."

LORD CLARENCE PAGET

said, he regretted that the Bill should not be approved by so distinguished an officer as Lord Fitzhardinge, who had done so much for the manning of the navy. Times had changed since the formation of the force, when men were alarmed at the possibility of having to serve in war time on board one of Her Majesty's ships. Now, the whole merchant service was proud of belonging to the Naval Coast Volunteers and Naval Reserve. It would he almost an insult to the coasting men of the country, if they were not allowed to participate in any future war; no doubt, they would be just as ready to serve the country then as the Naval Reserve could be. But without some alteration of the existing Act, it would be practically impossible to make use of those men. Suppose the case of a ship like the Alabama chased by our Channel vessels. It would contravene the Act of Parliament for our cruiser having Coast Volunteer men on board to proceed further than 300 miles from the coast, and so she might be obliged to turn round just as she was on the point of coining up with the chase. It was very well to say that the captain in such a case would proceed, but in doing so he would contravene the terms of the Act. It should be understood, however, that the Bill had not a retrospective effect; it would not apply to men now in the force, unless they entered afresh, expressly under its provisions.

Question, "That the word 'now ' stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to. Main Question put, and agreed to. Bill read 3°, and passed.

House adjourned at half after Twelve o'clock.