§ Order for Consideration, as amended, read.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)I understand that the hon. Member for Argyle has no objection to the proposal which I have put on the paper to extend his Bill to Ireland, and I hope the Government will be good enough to accept the Amendment, for the result of simply stopping trawling on the Scotch coast will be to drive the steam trawlers to Ireland. The Secretary of State for Scotland well knows that when he stopped steam trawlers in the North of Scotland, they came down to the Clyde, and now if he prohibits it altogether in Scotland, he will simply stop the mischief done by these plunderers of the deep in one part of the country and send them to another part. I therefore beg to move that the Bill be re-committed.
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be recommitted in respect of Clauses 1, 2 and 6."—(Mr. T. M. Healy.)
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think we can do this without further inquiry. The hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that there have been investigations into cases of alleged injury done by trawling, and after careful inquiry the allegations were found to be without foundation. It was decided that the injury to the spawn beds was practically nil, and the amount of premature fish destroyed was so trifling as not to be worth consideration, while any injury that was done was owing to the fishermen's own fault. When I was 631 Secretary for Scotland, I brought in a Bill restricting the action of trawlers; but I desire to point out to the hon. and learned Gentleman that the conditions of the law in Scotland and in Ireland vary. In Scotland, as the law at present stands, there is no power to stop trawling. The only power which the Secretary for Scotland has is to limit it for the purposes of carrying on scientific investigations; but unless I misunderstand the character of the Irish Law, there the Fishery Boards have absolute power to stop trawling wherever it does damage; and I believe I am right in saying that if the Boards fail to take action the fishermen in any district have a right to move the Privy Council to set them in motion. Therefore, the grievance in Ireland is not in any sense of the same character as the grievance in Scotland; and the effect of the hon. and learned Gentleman's Amendment would be to alter the presumption rather than the actual law. The Bill has now reached a very advanced stage.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have no doubt that the hon. and learned Gentleman has helped us to get it forward, and I was referring to the fact in order to point out that it might be deferred for a few days without in the least endangering its chances of passing this Session. I cannot assent to the Amendment without first consulting the Fishery Board on the matter. I have already had one Report from them which has not satisfied me, and I should like to further consider the matter before I give a decision as to the Amendment.
§ * MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)I am sorry the right hon. Gentleman has not seen his way to consent to the recommittal of the Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not dissent from it. I prefer to defer it.
§ * MR. MARJORIBANKSThen I am sorry he has not seen his way to assent to it now. As far as I am able to judge, the same conditions apply alike all round the coasts of Great Britain, and if it is detrimental to the fishing interest to permit trawling within the 632 three miles limit of the coast of Scotland, it is equally detrimental within the three miles limit of the coasts of England and Ireland. I must also dissent from the opinion the right hon. Gentleman has expressed in regard to the Fishery Board. I maintain that the Scotch Fishery Board have most complete power to prohibit trawling all round the coasts of Scotland, not merely for the purposes of scientific investigation, but for any purpose whatsoever. I know this is a matter as to which discussion has arisen. I still believe that the fact of prohibiting trawling within the three miles limit can do, and will do, very little harm indeed to trawlers, while it will do a great deal towards promoting the fishery supply of the kingdom, and also enabling the smaller and poorer class of fishermen to prosecute their calling to the greatest possible advantage. I believe this Act may be most beneficially applied both to Scotland and to Ireland, and I hope the Government will see their way so to extend it at no distant date. I trust, too, they will undertake to favourably consider this Amendment.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI think the best plan will be for me to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment, in order that the right hon. Gentleman may have an opportunity of consulting the Irish Fishery Board, although I entertain no hope that they will accept the Amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Consideration, as amended, deferred till Monday next.