MR. MAC IVERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whe- 1170 ther it is true that under the new regulations which are proposed with reference to the Custom House at Gibraltar, steamers calling there with cargo and arriving on a Saturday afternoon will not be able to commence discharging until Monday morning, instead of as at present being able to proceed on their voyages in the course of a few hours; and, whether the Government will endeavour to modify the proposed Ordinance in such manner that it may not result in any such serious interference with the trade of the port, nor in increased expenses to steamers making legitimate use of Gibraltar as a port of call?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERMy hon. Friend apparently refers to Clause 15 of the Draft Ordinance, which provides that "goods shall not be landed from any ship on Sundays, or holidays, except by special permission of the Governor." It is, however, the intention to grant such special permission in the case of the principal lines of steamers calling at Gibraltar, so that no inconvenience of the kind alluded to is likely to arise. The general opening, however, of the Custom House on Sunday for business which can be as well transacted upon other days would manifestly be undesirable.