HC Deb 23 February 1891 vol 350 cc1354-5
SIR EDWARD GREY (Northumberland, Berwick)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to introduce a Bill this Session to give effect to the Report of the Committee on the Thames Watermen and Lightermen Bill of last year?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)

The Committee of last year threw out a Bill for freeing the river. They have proposed, instead, a scheme which, after careful inquiry, I find appears to satisfy nobody. The Watermen's Company object to it, and complain that they were not heard by the Committee; and the Thames Conservators and the County Councils, apparently, do not want to have anything to do with the matter. Under these circumstances, I do not propose to introduce a Bill on the subject.