§ MR. THOMAS SUTHERLAND (Greenock)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will state under what authority a monopoly exists for the supply of ballast to ships in the port of Hull, and for whose benefit the proceeds of such monopoly are applied; whether he is aware that shipowners are compelled to make prepayment for ballast thus supplied, but are unable to obtain any redress from the Local Authorities when such ballast is short shipped, as is alleged frequently to be the case; and if he can suggest means by which redress may be obtained in such cases of overcharge?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe supply of ballast to ships in the port of Hull is regulated by a Local Act of Parliament, passed in 1832. Under that Statute, ½d. per ton of the current price of ballast (which is now 1s. 8d. per ton) is retained by the Pilotage Commissioners for cost of management, the remainder going to the ballast men. Shipowners are required to make prepayment, and the officers of the ship receive, before taking the ballast on board, a printed notice, requiring them to examine the ballast lighter, and thereby ascertain whether they receive the correct weight, and the ballast men are not paid except on the ship's receipt of having taken so many tons. The onus, therefore, rests with the officers of the ship.