§ MR. GOURLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade, If it is his intention 468 this Session to re-introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill; and, if so, whether he purposes afterwards to refer it, or any portion thereof, to a Select Committee; and, if it is his intention to introduce a Bill for the abolition of Compulsory Pilotage?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, in reply, said, that he fully intended to introduce a Bill for the abolition of Compulsory Pilotage, with the hope of carrying it into law. In regard to the other part of the Question, there still remained an immense mass of legislation to be consolidated and amended relating to the various interests of the mercantile body, and he was quite willing that the subject should be referred to a Select Committee; but as he feared that, on account of other Committees sitting, it would be impossible for him, and also for other hon. Members whom it might be desirable to appoint, to take part at present in such a Committee, he refrained for the moment from giving a positive answer to the Question.