§ MR. NORWOODsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Board of Trade Whether it is the intention of the Government to re-introduce the Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill of last Session, or a measure to a similar purport?
§ MR. STEPHEN CAVEreplied, that a Royal Commission was issued in September last to inquire into the operation and effect of the present constitution of various Courts of Law and Equity, and of the High Court of Admiralty, and the Admiralty Court of the Cinque Ports. Pending the Report of that Commission it would be obviously inexpedient to introduce a measure for altering the jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty, such as the Bill of last Session to which the hon. Member referred. It was, however, under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government whether clauses might not be inserted in the Bill for amending and consolidating the Acts relating to Merchant Shipping for the purpose of conferring additional Admiralty jurisdiction on Local Courts in certain cases.