§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTON (Liverpool, West Derby)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the attention of the Treasury has been drawn to the character of the work about to be undertaken by the Board of Trade in connection 1523 with the Mail Packet Pier at Holyhead; whether the Mail Packet authorities have protested against the work in question being carried on, as being likely to prove prejudicial to the rapid conduct of the Mail Service, and a source of danger, under certain conditions, to the Mail Steamers; and, whether, under these circumstances, the Treasury will either direct the discontinuance of the work, or authorise the necessary outlay for putting the Pier in an efficient and satisfactory condition, as requested by the Mail Packet Company?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.)The works on the Mail Packet Pier at Holyhead have been repeatedly brought to the notice of the Treasury. They consist of the raising of the platform of the pier so as to facilitate the transfer of the mail bags from the train to the packet, and vice versâ. I should explain that there are four berths for the mail steamers at the pier; three of these are alongside the wooden pier, and the raising of the platforms opposite those berths has, I understand, been completed. It is now proposed to take in hand the raising of the platform opposite the fourth berth, which is the most sheltered, being alongside the stone pier. The Packet Company ask that, as during the work this berth will be for the time not available, the work itself should be postponed till the open wooden pier has been so improved by close piling as to make it a safe berth in all winds. The technical officers of the Board of Trade, however, have reported that reasonable security is afforded by the structure as it is at present, and, having regard to that Report, the Treasury has authorized the raising of the platform to be proceeded with.