HC Deb 12 July 1883 vol 281 cc1336-8

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 (Commencement of Act).

MR. BLAKE

proposed to alter the date from January to October, pointing out that if Members of Parliament were appointed on the Commission, they could not possibly attend its meetings, and be in Parliament at the same time.

Amendment proposed, in page 1, line 11, to leave out the word "January," and insert the word "October."—(Mr. Blake.)

Question proposed, "That the word 'January' stand part of the Clause."

MR. COURTNEY

said, he could not see that it would be possible, without great inconvenience, to bring the Act into operation by next October; but between now and Report he would see whether this proposal could be accepted or not, if it were now withdrawn.

MR. LEAMY

said, he thought the proposal of the hon. Gentleman a fair and reasonable one; but he must point out that it was most desirable that, before any works were undertaken, there should be a full and exhaustive inquiry made by the Commission. No doubt, they would receive many applications, most of which would deserve most serious consideration; and he hoped the hon. Gentleman would give the fullest consideration to this proposal. The Bill, he believed, would be received with a great deal of satisfaction by the people interested.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendments made.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Clause 3 (Lord Lieutenant may appoint commissioners for the Irish fisheries).

COLONEL NOLAN

said, he thought the proposal of the hon. Member for Waterford (Mr. Blake), to have four persons in addition to the Inspector, was better than that of the Government to appoint four Members of Parliament, or three Members of this House and one Peer.

MR. TREVELYAN

said, the Bill, as originally drawn, was drawn certainly in good faith; but it involved a very serious and a new principle. The Government would be extremely unwilling to let the fact of Membership of this House be in itself a title and qualification to a seat on a Commission to spend public money. As he understood, the clauses were not seriously contested, and he could not accept the proposal.

Clause agreed to.

Remaining Clauses agreed to.

Several New Clauses agreed to.

New Clause:—

(Constitution of Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission.)

"For the purpose of aiding the Commissioners of Public Works in carrying this Act into effect, a Commission shall be constituted, to he styled the Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission, consisting of the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries and of one other person, to be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, who shall hold his office during the pleasure of the Lord Lieutenant, and shall be the chairman of the Commission, and shall have a casting vote. The person so appointed shall not he paid any salary or remuneration for his services, and shall not, by reason of such appointment, be disqualified from being elected or sitting as a Member of the House of Commons, and, if he is a Member of the House of Commons at the time of his appointment, shall not cease to be a Member by reason of such appointment.

"It shall he the duty of the Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission to give such assistance to the Commissioners of Public Works as the Inspectors of Irish Fisheries have heretofore given in the execution of the Fishery Piers and Harbours Acts; and to confer with the Commissioners of Public Works relative to the works proposed from time to time to he executed out of the Sea Fisheries Fund; and generally to aid in carrying this Act into effect, in such manner as the Lord Lieutenant may from time to time direct.

"The Commissioners of Public Works, before forwarding to the Treasury the Report as to any proposed work which they are required to forward pursuant to the tenth section of 'The Fishery Piers and Harbours Act, 1846,' shall furnish to the Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission a copy of the plans and specifications relating to the proposed work; and the Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission may make such observations relative to such plans and specifications, for the information of the Treasury, as they think fit,"—(Mr. Trevelyan,)

—brought up, and read the first time.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause be read a second time."

MR. STEVENSON

said, he understood that the Government were willing to wait for the Report of the Committee on Harbour Accommodation, which was to meet to-morrow. He believed that the question of Irish harbours was to form part of their deliberations; and he could hardly reconcile that state of things with what appeared to be the intention of the Government, who, without waiting for the Report of the Committee, prescribed the constitution of the Fishery Piers and Harbours Commission.

Clause agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Monday next.

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