HC Deb 20 April 1893 vol 11 cc766-7
MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether arrangements will be made to send one or both of the gun-boats now lying in the Humber to the North of Scotland to protect the fishermen against the depredations of the trawlers, instead of employing them in the private interests of the Shipowners' Federation?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON,) Dundee

I am prepared to answer the question, but I think it right, Sir, to call attention to the statement that the gunboats in the Humber are sent there "in the private interests of the Shipowners' Federation" and to ask you whether it is in Order?

MR. SPEAKER

The fact is, that this question got behind some other papers, and was sent to the printers without supervision. The last words are clearly out of Order, assuming that the gunboats were employed in the private interest of the Shipowners' Federation.

MR. WEIR

Then may I delete those words and ask the question?

MR. SPEAKER

Yes.

MR. E. ROBERTSON

In answer to the amended question, I have to say that the gunboats are in the Humber in pursuance of an application from the Home Office, and it is not known when their presence there can be dispensed with. Their employment there does not affect the usual arrangements being made for the fishery service.

MR. MACFARLANE

Without referring to the question of the presence of gunboats in the Humber, may I ask whether the hon. Member is aware that great complaints are made by the fishermen all round the coast that their fishing is completely destroyed by steam trawlers because no protection is afforded by gunboats?

MR. E. ROBERTSON

I am aware such complaints have been made.