QUESTION. (Hansard, 28 February 1870)

§ MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, am not sorry that this Question has been asked, because I think I can, in a few words, remove a false impression which appears to exist in the mind of the hon. Baronet and in the minds of other persons. In the first place, I may remark that it is not true that any increased tolls are being levied at the present time. According to the provisions of the Act passed last year, increased tolls may be levied when a market has been made by the Corporation of London to the satisfaction of the Privy Council. Now, as I have already stated in reply to another Question, we have been in negotiation with the authorities in order to find out whether they were about to construct a market or not? The result is, that we believe they do intend to make a market, and I have no reason to suppose that it will not be a sufficient one. The present position of the question is as follows:—The matter was referred by the Corporation of London to the Market Committee, some members of which submitted to my noble Friend Earl de Grey and to myself plans and a report which they intended to present to the Corporation. The report stated that the committee had inspected eight sites, of which they could recommend one, though before doing so they wished to know whether the Government would be pre- 896 pared to accept it? That site was at Deptford, between the Royal Victualling Yard and the Commercial Docks. Now, though it is not the business of the Government to find out the best site in or near the metropolis, it is their duty to say that a site will not be satisfactory if it evidently will not. Therefore, after hearing all the statements of these gentlemen, we came to the conclusion that there was no reason for objecting to the proposed site; and, in order to remove any misapprehension that may exist, I will read the exact words of my letter, which ran as follows:— In reply I am directed by the Lords of the Admiralty to state, that their Lordships sec no reason to object to the site you name—namely, the one at Deptford—provided that the area be sufficiently large to meet the requirements of the market, and to give the necessary wharf accommodation. I likewise mentioned that our statement that there was "no reason to object" was on the assumption that the information would turn out to be correct that the site was from twelve to fourteen acres—I had heard it said that it was only some three or four acres—and that there would be wharf accommodation for two ships at a time, at all times of tide. I may state that my noble Friend and myself are determined that tins shall be a bonâ fide market to meet the requirements of the trade. There are ample means of communication both by road and rail. I ought, however, to mention that at present the Deptford site has not been definitively decided on, because the Market Committee have not yet presented their report to the Corporation, and I cannot, of course, be quite sure whether they will eventually select this site or not.