§ Order for Committee read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Baron Henry De Worms.)
701§ Motion agreed to
§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clauses 1 to 10, inclusive, agreed to.
§ Clause 11 (Fees payable on engagements and discharges).
§ MR. GROTRIAN (Hull, E.)This clause provides that the Board of Trade may prescribe the fees to be paid by the owners of fishing boats in connection with the engagement and discharge of crows; and it goes on to say that the superintendents, clerks, and servants may refuse to proceed with any such engagement or discharge unless the fees have first been paid, and that the fees so paid shall be carried to the credit of the Mercantile Marino Fund. I ask, what is the intention of the Government with regard to these fees? because, on the face of the clause, it would be competent to the Board of Trade considerably to increase the fees payable under the Mercantile Marine Act of 1854. If the hon. Gentleman in charge of the Bill would give a pledge that the fees to be levied under the clause will not exceed the fees chargeable under the Mercantile Marine Act of 1854, I should regard it as satisfactory. With regard to the Bill generally, there are one or two points on which I might have felt disposed to offer a few remarks; but, having regard to the fact that the Bill finds general acceptance on both sides of the House, I shall limit my observations to the question I have raised, and which my constituents regard as of considerable importance to them. I venture to hope that the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Board of Trade (Baron Henry Do Worms) will give the pledge I have asked for, and afford facilities, by deferring the next stage, in order to carry out his intention.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)I can give the pledge which the hon. Gentleman asks for.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Clause 12 (Power to hold inquiries in cases of loss of life from boats of fishing vessels).
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)I rise to ask why this Bill is not to extend, as I 702 wish it to do, to Scotland? On what grounds is Scotland excluded?
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out Section (2).—(Dr. Clark.)
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSThe hon. Member will be aware that a special Act was passed last year, dealing with the question of the Scotch Fisheries. It was quite understood in consequence that this Bill should not apply to Scotland, and when the hon. Member considers that I make that statement in accordance with the views of Scotch Members, I have no doubt he will not think it necessary to press his Amendment on the Committee
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Clause 13 agreed to.
§ Preamble agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time upon Monday next.