DR. CAMERONasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he has definitely sanctioned the removal of the public pier at Pimlico; and, if so, whether, before sanctioning its removal, he took any steps to acquaint himself with the wishes and convenience of the workers at the Army Clothing Factory and the inhabitants of the district?
§ MR. CALLANBefore the Question is answered, I wish to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is a fact that not one single worker at the Army Clothing Factory, whoso wish and convenience the hon. Member for Glasgow (Dr. Cameron) considers should have been consulted by the right hon. Gentleman, is a regular passenger by the steamboat on working days, and therefore could in any way be inconvenienced by the removal of the pier; whether that removal has not only not met with the sanction and approval of the vestry and local authorities, but also of the inhabitants of Pimlico; and, whether the only parties in any way inconvenienced are the Members of Parliament residing, like the hon. Member for Glasgow, in St. George's Square, who prefer the economy of a penny boat to the more expensive luxury of a cab?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE, in reply, said, that some weeks ago he received a communication from the London Steamboat Company, asking permission to change the position of the pier at Pimlico, from its present site, to about 300 yards further up the river, on the ground that, being immediately opposite the pier which had been erected on the other side of the river, great inconvenience and difficulty were experienced in bringing the steamers from one side to the other. The Company represented to him that they had obtained the consent 956 of the District Board of Works, and also that of the Vestry of St. George's, Hanover Square; and he gave his consent provided they also obtained the consent of the Metropolitan Board of Works. It was the intention of the Government to hand over the interest which they had in the Pimlico Embankment to the Metropolitan Board of Works as soon as possible.
§ SIR JOHN HAYgave Notice that he would ask the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, on Thursday, whether the Board had given its sanction to the arrangement?
§ MR. CALLANsaid, that, at the same time, he should ask whether, though the Board had not given their consent, the work of removal had been begun?
DR. CAMERONsaid, he had asked about the removal of a pier, and not the erection of a new one. With regard to the remark of the hon. Member opposite (Mr. Callan), no inconvenience would be felt by him (Dr. Cameron), as, during the present Parliament, he did not believe he had once travelled by the penny boats.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREOf course, I understood that in the event of the erection of a now pier the Company would cease to use the old one.
DR. CAMERONasked whether a pier could be removed without the assent of the Department which the right hon. Gentleman represented?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI really do not know.