HC Deb 24 August 1889 vol 340 cc454-7

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2.

Amendment moved, Clause 2, page 1, line 14, after "port," insert "and, if 50 tons gross tonnage or upwards, shall also on entering or leaving any British port."—(Lord George Hamilton.)

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

MR. MURPHY

No word of explanation regarding this Bill has ever been given in any of its stages. It appears to me to be quite meaningless and uncalled for to require every vessel entering or leaving a port to hoist a particular flag. This Bill is only calculated to send enterprising or officious naval officers in chase of every unfortunate barge that goes out of the Thames or elsewhere round the coast and offends against this new regulation. I myself was some time ago the victim of a raid made by order of an officious gentleman of this kind, who sent his lieutenant and crew in a steam launch after a small yacht of mine, which they boarded, and hauled down and captured a flag, which somehow had offended the susceptibilities of the gallant captain, though he had no legal authority whatever for his action. I now beg to move the Amendment to the noble Lord's Amendment standing on the Paper in the name of Sir Charles Palmer.

Amendment proposed, to the proposed Amendment, to leave out "fifty," and insert "one hundred."—(Mr. Murphy.)

Question proposed, "That 'fifty' stand part of the proposed Amendment."

THE FIEST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, Ealing

It is true that there has been no long discussion on the Bill, but this Amendment has been before the Chamber of Shipping for the last two years, and the President of the Chamber has expressed his approval of it. I have been in communication with Members connected with shipping, and in consequence of the discussions we have had they have withdrawn their objections to the Amendments. We have come to the conclusion that 100 is too high and that 50 would be a sufficient limit to adopt.

MR. MURPHY

Evidently the shipping Members of this House are the representatives of the larger classes of shipping and have not been in touch with the owners of small vessels. It is easy for large ships to comply with these requirements, as they always have on board plenty of colours and plenty of men to hoist them, but that is not the case with small vessels, which have very few hands and very slender appliances.

LORD G. HAMILTON

We will take care that the Bill is not made a harassing one to small craft, as the hon. Member seems to fear it will be.

MR. MURPHY

I am afraid that the instructions which are issued will be of a very ephemeral character, whereas the Act of Parliament is permanent. But I do not wish to press the Amendment.

Amendment to the Amendment withdrawn.

Original Amendment agreed to.

MR. MURPHY

I now beg to move the Amendment standing in my own name. It is necessary, I think, in order to protect small pleasure yachts. The absence of some such provision is likely to give rise to considerable annoyance.

Amendment moved, Clause 2, page 1, line 15, after "colours," add— Provided that this section shall not apply to any yacht or boat used wholly or partly for pleasure."—(Mr. Murphy.)

Question proposed, "That those words be there added."

LORD G. HAMILTON

It would be impossible to accept these words. Every yacht of under 50 tons burthen will be exempted, but there are pleasure yachts of 60 tons and 100 tons, and I think the hon. Gentleman will see the necessity of including them. I may say I should not have brought this Bill forward at the end of the Session if there had not been practical agreement between myself and the fishing and yachting interest on the matter.

MR. MURPHY

Would the noble Lord accept the Amendment if applied to yachts and pleasure boats if not exceeding 100 tons?

LORD G. HAMILTON

I am afraid that would make an invidious distinction between pleasure boats and boats used for purposes of trade.

MR. MURPHY

I understand the noble Lord means to make an exemption in the case of fishing boats. The Amendment I propose would be no more invidious than his own proposal.

LORD G. HAMILTON

Fishing boats are registered as letters of marque under the Act of Parliament and pleasure boats are not.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Monday next.