§ MR. ARTHUR COHENasked the honourable Baronet the Member for Glamorganshire, Whether the Select Committee on the Metropolitan Board of Works (Thames Crossings) Bill, after finding the allegations in the Preamble of the Tower Bridge Bill, and of so much of the Metropolitan Board of Works Bill as related to a subway, not proved, and before reporting in favour of a low level swing bridge, gave any and what opportunity to the owners of sufferance wharves and legal quays an opportunity of stating their objections, and adducing evidence against a scheme so deeply affecting their interests, and of proving that the requirements of traffic would be sufficiently provided for by a tunnel, and that thereby serious loss to the trade of the port of London would be avoided?
§ SIR HUSSEY VIVIANThe Select Committee on Thames Crossings sat for 22 days, during which a vast amount of evidence was given as to the schemes which were then and had been previously proposed for crossing the Thames below London Bridge, and their bearing on all the interests concerned. Among others interested in the trade and shipping below London Bridge, the owners of legal quays and warehouses, and traders of the Port of London, appeared by counsel and cross-examined the witnesses who were called in support of the Bills. The rejection of both Bills on the termination of the promoter's case rendered it unnecessary that the counsel for the wharfingers should state their case, and call evidence in support of their contention. In reporting their decision to the House, the Committee deemed it advisable, in view of the public importance of the question, to make a special Report, and to embody in it the opinions they had unanimously formed as to how the wants of the public below London Bridge could be best served, based on the mass of evidence they had received. If the views expressed by the Committee should be acted on, either by the Corporation of the City of London or of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Parliamentary sanction must be obtained be- 1416 fore any scheme can be carried into effect; and the wharfingers and all others who may consider their interests injuriously affected will have ample opportunity of appearing before the Committees of both Houses and defending those interests.