§ MR. GRIEVEsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that the revenue of the Cumbrae Lights, in the River Clyde, which arises from tolls upon shipping, amounted in the year ending 31st May 1869, to £9,710 13s. 8d, whilst the expenditure for maintenance and management of the Lights amounted only to £1,341 7s. 9d, and that the surplus, amounting to £8,369 5s. 11d., is divided between the Glasgow and Greenock Harbour Trusts in the proportions of five-sixths and one-sixth respectively; and, whether the Board of Trade can take any steps to put a stop to this anomalous state of things?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRESir, the attention of the Board of Trade has been called to the subject the hon. Member has referred to, and I believe he has correctly stated the application of the Clyde Light Dues under the authority of a local Act. I need hardly say that the policy advocated by the Board of Trade for many years past has been entirely opposed to such anomalies, and if the parties locally interested will bring before Parliament a fair and reasonable measure for putting an end to it the Board of Trade will render them any assistance it can.