§ MR. GOURLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade, If it be his intention to proceed with or withdraw the Merchant Shipping Acts Amendment Bill, which stands for second reading on Thursday next; if the latter, if he intends to introduce an amended Bill, based upon the information and opinions of practical seafaring shipowners, shipbuilders, and seamen with whom he held interviews during his recent visit to the North Eastern ports?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY, in reply, said, with regard to this somewhat extraordinary Question, he could only suppose that the hon. Member's wish was father to the thought, for he could find no other origin for it. He could only refer the hon. Member to the Notice Paper, on which the second reading of this Bill was the First Order of the Day for Thursday. He should have 364 regretted that the pressure of business had delayed the Bill so long, but for the opportunity thereby afforded him of having interviews with the three classes of persons indicated in the Question; and he was glad to say that in the proposals he was making he believed he had the concurrence of the seamen's best friends and of the best shipowners throughout the country.