§ MR. D. JENKINSasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If he will call the attention of the Directors representing Her Majesty's Government at the Board of the Suez Canal Company to the excessive rate charged for pilotage through the Canal, amounting in many cases to more than one franc per ton on the ship's registered tonnage, less than one-fifth of which is paid to the pilots employed by the Company; and, if Her Majesty's Government will use their influence to relieve British shipping from this charge?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, he found that under the 6th clause of the arrangements regulating the charges to be made vessels were not charged according to their tonnage, but according to their draught of water. If a vessel happened to be of small tonnage, but of a large draught of water she had to pay a heavy sum per ton; whereas if she was of large tonnage and of comparatively small draught of water, she was charged much less. The suggestion of the hon. Gentleman that in many cases vessels were charged for pilotage more than a franc per ton on their registered tonnage, was hardly borne out by the facts of the case, the sum charged being 70 centimes per ton. With regard to the application of the pilotage rates it expressly included remuneration for the maintenance of sidings, telegraphy, watchmen, signals, and other means established by the Company to ensure the safety and good navigation of the vessels that passed through the Canal. Under these 1857 circumstances, he thought it was hardly a case which justified Her Majesty's Government using their influence to relieve British shipping from this charge.