§ MR. PEMBERTONasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether complaints have not been made for some years past with respect to the management of Ramsgate Harbour and its property; whether a private inquiry did not take place under the direction of the Board during the past autumn with reference to such complaints, and to certain proposals that the harbour and its property should be transferred to some local authority; and, if so, whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House the Papers connected with such inquiry, and the Report (if any) made to the Board; and, whether there would be any objection on the part of the Government to the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire publicly into the matters above referred to?
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYSir, I am not aware of any specific complaints of mismanagement of Ramsgate Harbour. Proposals have been made for transferring the harbour to local bodies, but there seem to be no materials for constituting such a general authority over town and harbour as proposed, and certainly the harbour dues should only be expended on the harbour. Ramsgate Harbour was transferred to the Board of Trade in 1861, on the abolition of passing tolls, and the Board maintained the harbour till lately on a balance of capital; but lately Votes in Aid have been made by Parliament. This year the Vote will disappear and the Board of Trade is able to make the revenue and expenditure meet. An inquiry was held early last year at my request by the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and two other gentlemen with a view to ascertain whether any improvements could be made; but the Board of Trade do not see how they can relieve themselves of the trust. I will lay the Papers connected with this inquiry on the Table, and until these Papers are produced the 1019 House cannot judge if further inquiry is desirable. I do not think anything more can be elicited, but any information I can give the hon. Member I shall be happy to give him.