§ Order for Committee read.
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINBefore you put the Question, Sir, that you leave the Chair, I wish to say a few words about the Bill, as the second reading was agreed to without any discussion. The Bill is really an important one, and refers more especially to the East Coasts of England and Scotland. It was promised last Session. The general principle of the Bill is agreed to on all sides, and the only objection that has been taken is that it does not go far enough. What it proposes is to give power to the Board of Trade to constitute an authority to protect the clams and other shell-fish used as bait by fishermen, and found within territorial waters in several places on the coast. The authority would be very similar to that appointed for the protection of the oyster fisheries. The hon. Member for St. Andrews (Mr. Williamson) has proposed that the Bill should go somewhat further, and give authority to protect the spawn of herrings. The proposal of the hon. Member for Aberdeen (Mr. Webster) goes still further. He desires to include all fishing banks. These are questions of considerable importance, and proper for discussion in Committee. I propose to-night, therefore, to accept as Instructions to the Committee the proposals of my hon. Friends; but I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not pledge the Government to accept their views. The Committee will have to decide whether or no further powers should be given to the authority to be constituted. With this understanding, I beg to move, Sir, that you do now leave the Chair, and when the House gets into Committee, I shall at once move to report Progress, in order that a more fitting opportunity may be taken for discussing the Bill.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Mr. Chamberlain.)
§ MR. WILLIAMSONwas glad that the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade saw his way to allow of his proposal going forward as 1476 as an Instruction to the Committee. [Cries of "Move!"]
§ MR. A. M. SULLIVANdid not know whether the Government intended to accept the further extension of the Bill as proposed by another hon. Member. Two suggestions were made, and he was not quite sure that he understood what the right hon. Gentleman had said with regard to them.
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI wish it to be quite clear that we accept those proposals as Instructions to the Committee; but we do not pledge the Government to accept the views of the hon. Gentlemen.
§ MR. SPEAKERDoes the hon. Member wish to move his Instruction to the Committee?
§ MR. WILLIAMSONmoved—
That it be an Instruction to the Committee, That they have power to protect beds within territorial waters where herrings are known to spawn.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That it he an Instruction to the Committee) That they have power to protect beds within territorial waters where herrings are known to spawn."—(Mr. Williamson.)
§ Amendment proposed, to add the words "and also fishing banks."—(Mr. Webster.)
§ Question, "That those words be there added," put, and agreed to.
§ Main Question, as amended, put.
§ Ordered, That it he an Instruction to the Committee, That they have power to protect beds within territorial waters where herrings are known to spawn, and also fishing hanks.
§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."— (Mr. Chamberlain.)
§ MR. A. BALFOURhoped that the discussion on the Committee stage of the Bill would be taken at a reasonable hour.
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINThis is one of those Bills which can hardly be taken as an early Order; but it will not be proceeded with at an unreasonable hour.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Thursday.