[BILL 274.] SECOND READING. (Hansard, 11 June 1886)

§ MR. EDWARD CLARKE (Plymouth)

Sir, I certainly expected that some explanation would have been given of the Bill, the second reading of which has just been moved; and I think that perhaps, under the circumstances, it will be better to move as an Amendment, that it be read this day three months. But, Mr. Speaker, this is a Bill which was only introduced last night, and ordered to be printed yesterday. It is a Bill which makes great alterations in the provisions of the Act of 1883, relating to fishing vessels. Now, Sir, I have had some experience of the very unfortunate results which follow regulations made without due notice to this House. The Bill of 1883 passed through both Houses of Parliament in the same manner as it is proposed to pass this Bill. It was printed on the very day that it came to the House of Lords for second reading; then it came down to this House; it was printed on the day of second reading here; great inconvenience resulted; it was passed in the absence of any discussion on the part of those who were interested in the subject. There was an Amendment on the Paper to exclude fishing boats from that Act which was not properly considered; and what happens? The 3rd clause of the Bill now proposed is to give power to exempt fishing boats from the operation of the Act, which was passed in the manner I have described. Sir, I represent a constituency very considerably interested in this matter, and I distinctly object to the second reading of the Bill being taken to-night. There has been no time whatever for the consideration of the proposal, and I do not think there is any reason whatever why the Bill should be pressed upon the House at this time, when there can be no serious discussion of its provisions.

§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. D. ACLAND) (Cornwall, Launceston)

Sir, the only reason why I did not enter into any explanation of the Bill was, because I considered it undesirable to take up any portion of the time of the House. I will state shortly why the Bill is in its present shape. The Department considered which clauses were likely to give rise to opposition, and they concluded that whatever opposition there might be would be in respect of clauses dealing with other matters than fishing boats, which subject it was thought would give rise to no opposition whatever. The Bill is intended to put the masters and men of small fishing boats in the same position as seamen under the Act passed two or three years ago, an Act which has been found to work well; and I find, after consultation with the trade, both skippers and seamen, that the Bill has the unanimous consent of every class. [Mr. E. CLARKE dissented.] The hon. and learned Gentleman shakes his head; but I can assure him that the statement is correct; and, for that reason, I ask that the second reading may be taken now. I should have brought the Bill in at an earlier date, but for the delay which has taken place in getting the answers of the various classes interested, some of which have only been three or four days in my possession. We were then satisfied that there would be no opposition. I, however, quite agree that it is only reasonable that the Bill should be well considered by the House, and I am prepared to assent willingly to the adjournment of the debate.