§ Bill, as amended, considered.
§
SIR CHARLES FORSTER moved—
That Standing Orders 223 and 243 be suspended, and that the Bill he now read the third time (Queen's Consent, on behalf of the Crown and Duchy of Lancaster, to be signified).
§ MR. WHITLEYsaid, he was glad to see the President of the Board of Trade in his place, because the right hon. Gentleman would probably be able to answer an inquiry which he had made yesterday. The question he desired to put to [the right hon. Gentleman was one of great importance. In Liverpool the Conservators of the Mersey were looted up to as the protectors of the interests of the Conservancy. Admiral Spratt was the Acting Conservator of the Mersey; but it had been stated that Sir John Coode had been appointed to advise and assist the Conservators; and he wanted to know what were the scope and object of Sir John Coode's appointment? If they were simply to advise the Conservators of the Mersey there could be no possible objection; but if Sir John Coode's evidence was to be given before the Committee of the House of Lords in aid of the promoters of this Bill, it was felt that the interests of the Mersey would in some degree be jeopardized. Therefore, he wished to know what were the scope and object of Sir John Coode's appointment, and if he had been appointed with the consent of the Conservators of the Mersey?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINsaid, the hon. Member for Liverpool (Mr. Whitley) would be aware that the Mersey Conservancy consisted of the First Lord of the Admiralty, the President of the Board of Trade, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, assisted by the Acting Conservator, Admiral Spratt. When this Bill was first promoted the Promoters sought to throw a great responsibility on the Conservancy, in requiring their approval to the works to be done in the estuary; and the Conservators felt, after consulting with Admiral Spratt, that they required further experienced advice before they could give any satisfactory opinion on the matter submitted to them. They, therefore, insisted that the Promoters should agree to the insertion of the clause by which they would undertake to pay the expense of any professional assistance which the Conservators of the Mersey might think fit to call in. That clause had been agreed to, and it was in accordance with its provisions that the Conservators of the Mersey had now appointed Sir John Coode, as an engineer of wide experience in similar matters, to advise them and assist Admiral 1184 Spratt. He was not at all connected with the Promoters of the undertaking; but he would be employed in a consultative capacity on behalf of the Conservators of the Mersey.
§ MR. WHITLEYexpressed his satisfaction with the explanation.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read the third time (Queen's Consent signified), and passed.